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Reply to Takahashi Nyudo
 
Our compassionate father Shakyamuni Buddha, the Greatly Enlightened World-Honored One, made his appearance in central India at the time when the human life span measured a hundred years, and for the sake of all living beings set forth the sacred teachings of his lifetime. The persons living at the same time as Shakyamuni Buddha had already formed profound karmic ties with him in the past, and hence they were able to attain the Way. But Shakyamuni was much concerned about how to save those who would live after his passing, and so he put his eighty thousand sacred teachings into written form. Among the sacred teachings of his lifetime, he entrusted the Hinayana sutras to the Venerable Mahakashyapa, and the Mahayana sutras, as well as the Lotus and Nirvana sutras, to Bodhisattva Monjushiri.
 

But the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the eighty thousand sacred teachings and the very eye of the Lotus Sutra, he did not entrust to Mahakashyapa or Ananda, nor would he transfer them to the great bodhisattvas such as Monju, Fugen, Kannon, Miroku, Jizo or Nagarjuna. These great bodhisattvas hoped that he would do so, and requested it of him, but the Buddha would not consent. Instead he summoned the venerable figure Bodhisattva Jogyo forth from the depths of the earth, and in the presence of the Buddha Taho and the other Buddhas of the ten directions, the Tathagata Shakyamuni, seated in the tower adorned with seven kinds of precious gems, entrusted the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo to Bodhisattva Jogyo.
 

The reason for this was as follows. All the beings who live after the Buddha's passing are children of the Buddha, and he thinks of them all equally with compassion. But, just as it is customary for a physician to prescribe medicine according to the particular ailment he is treating, so for the first five hundred years after his passing, the Buddha commanded that Mahakashyapa, Ananda and other disciples should give to all living beings the medicine of the Hinayana sutras. For the following five-hundred-year period, he decreed that Bodhisattva Monjushiri, Bodhisattva Miroku, Bodhisattva Nagarjuna and Bodhisattva Vasubandhu should bestow upon all living beings the medicine of the Kegon, Dainichi, Hannya and other Mahayana sutras. And for the time of the Middle Day of the Law, a thousand years after his passing, he decreed that Bodhisattva Yakuo, Bodhisattva Kanzeon and others should bestow upon all living beings the medicine of the remaining teachings, with the exception of Myoho-renge-kyo, the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra.
 

With the coming the Latter Day of the Law, however, with regard to these Hinayana sutras, Mahayana sutras and the Lotus Sutra - which were entrusted respectively to Mahakashyapa, Ananda and others, to the bodhisattva Monju, Miroku and others, and to Yakuo, Kannon and others - though the words of these sutras still remain, they will no longer serve as medicine for the illnesses of living beings. The illnesses will be too grave, and these medicines too ineffectual. At that time, Bodhisattva Jogyo will make his appearance in the world and bestow upon all living beings of Jambudvipa the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo.
 

At that time, the people will all look upon this bodhisattva as an enemy. They will be like so many monkeys faced with a dog, or like demons eyeing human beings with spite. [They will treat him] like Bodhisattva Fukyo in times past, who was not only cursed and hated by all people but was attacked with sticks and staves, rocks and tiles, or like the monk Kakutoku, who was nearly put to death.
 

At that time, Mahakashyapa and Ananda will hide themselves on Eagle Peak or disappear into the Ganges River. Miroku and Monju will withdraw to the inner court of the Tushita Heaven or retire to the Fragrant Mountain, and Bodhisattva Kanzeon will return to the western region and Bodhisattva Fugen to the eastern region. Though there will be those who practice the various sutras, no one will guard and protect such people, and therefore they will be unable to bring benefit to the people. Though there will be persons who chant the names of the various Buddhas, the heavenly gods will not lend them protection. They will be as helpless as calves separated from their mothers or pheasants sighted by hawks.
 

And at that time the great demons from the worlds of the ten directions will come crowding into the continent of Jambudvipa and will take possession of the four categories of Buddhists, causing them to inflict injury on their parents or to do away with their own brothers and sisters. In particular, these demons will enter into the hearts of those monks and nuns throughout the nation who appear to be wise or who seem to be diligent in observing the precepts, and through them will practice deception upon the ruler of the nation and his ministers.
 

At that time, if there should be someone who, receiving the protection of Bodhisattva Jogyo, bestows only the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, the five characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, upon all persons, then those four categories of Buddhists as well as the other prominent monks will hate him as though he were their parents' enemy or a foe from some previous existence, or will regard him with loathing as though he were a sworn enemy of the imperial house or someone bent on revenge.
 

At that time, great changes will take place in the heavens. There will be eclipses of the sun and moon, great comets will streak across the sky, and the earth will quiver and shake as though it were a waterwheel. Following this will come the disaster of rebellion within one's own domain, in which the ruler of the nation, his brothers, and the other great men of the nation will be attacked and killed. And then will come the disaster of invasion from abroad, when the land will be attacked by a neighboring nation, and the people will be taken prisoner or commit suicide, and everyone within the country, whether high or low, will encounter great tribulation.
 

All of this will come about solely because the person who is propagating the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra under the protection of Bodhisattva Jogyo is abused, struck, exiled and threatened with execution. For we read in the sutra that Bonten, Taishaku, the gods of the sun and moon and the Four Heavenly Kings inscribed an oath in the presence of the Buddha at the assembly where the Lotus Sutra was being preached, vowing that if anyone should show enmity toward the votary of the Lotus Sutra, they would chastise that person with greater vehemence than if he were the sworn enemy of their own father and mother.
 

Now I, Nichiren, have been born in the country of Japan. When I hold up the bright mirror of the Lotus Sutra and the other sutras to the faces of the persons living in this country, I see that matters do not differ in the slightest from what the sutras predict. Just as the Buddha foretold, great changes are taking place in the heavens and prodigies are appearing on earth.
 

For some time now I have known that this nation is destined for destruction. I knew that, if I reported this to the ruler, and if it were still possible that the nation might be preserved in peace and safety, then he would surely ask me to clarify [the meaning of my words]; but if the nation were indeed doomed, then the ruler would not heed my advice. And if he did not heed my advice, then I knew that I would most likely be condemned to exile or execution. Yet the Buddha has warned us: "If, while understanding this matter, you still hesitate to risk your life and therefore do not declare it to the people, then you are not only my enemy but the deadly enemy of all living beings and are bound to fall into the great citadel of the Avichi Hell."
 

At this point I became troubled as to how to proceed. If I spoke out with regard to this matter, there was no telling what might become of me. My own safety was of little concern, but suppose that my parents, brothers and perhaps even one other person out of a thousand or ten thousand should follow me. They, too, would surely be hated by both the ruler and the common people. And if they were so hated, then, not having a full understanding of the Buddhist teachings, they would find it difficult to endure the attacks of others. Though they had supposed that, by practicing the Buddha's Law, they would gain peace and security, in fact they would find that, because they had embraced this teaching, they were beset by great hardships. In that case they would then slander this Law as a distorted teaching and therefore fall into the evil paths. How pitiful that would be!
 

But if, on the other hand, I failed to speak out on this matter, then not only would I be going against the vow I made to the Buddha, but I would become the deadly enemy of all living beings and be condemned without fail to the Avichi Hell. Thus, though I had debated which course of action to take, I made up my mind to speak out.
 

I felt that once I had begun to speak out, it would not do to falter or desist along the way, and so I spoke out with ever-increasing vigor. Then, just as the Buddha's words in the sutra had predicted, the ruler grew hostile and the common people began to attack me. And because they treated me with enmity, heaven grew enraged, the sun and moon displayed great changes in their behavior, and huge comets appeared. The earth shook as though it would turn over, internecine strife broke out within the nation, and a foreign country attacked from without. All happened just as the Buddha had predicted, and there was no longer any doubt the I, Nichiren, am the votary of the Lotus Sutra.
 

Last year when I left Kamakura and took refuge here, I had intended to stop and speak with you and the others, since it was on my way, but in the end I failed to do so. In addition, I have failed to reply to your earlier communication, though I certainly had no particular intention of neglect. How could I ever feel distantly toward any of you? Even in the case of the Nembutsu priests, the Zen people and the Shingon teachers, as well as the ruler of the nation and other men of authority, all of whom bear me such hatred - I admonish them because I want to help them, and their hatred for me makes me pity them more than ever. How could I, then, think lightly of those who, even for a day, have acted as allies and extended me their sympathy?
 

Actually I am relieved when persons who have wives and children to worry about keep their distance from me out of fear of the world's reaction. I have no power to save those who ally themselves with me, and in addition they may risk having what small estates they possess taken away from them. It pains me to think how this must distress their wives and children and their followers, who have no real understanding of the situation.
 

In the second month of last year I was granted pardon, and on the thirteenth day of the third month I left the province of Sado, arriving in Kamakura on the twenty-sixth day of the same month. On the eighth day of the fourth month, when I met with Hei no Saemon, he questioned me about various matters, and in the course of the discussion asked when the Mongols would launch their invasion.
 

"They will come this year," I replied. "And in regard to this matter, except for me, there is no one who can save this country of Japan! If you want to save the nation, then you should cut off the heads of all the Nembutsu, Zen and Ritsu priests in Japan and expose them to view on Yuinohama beach. But I suppose it is too late for that now.
 

"Everyone thinks that I am simply intent upon speaking ill of the Nembutsu teachers and the Zen and Ritsu priests. But these people are of little consequence. It is the Shingon sect with its evil doctrines that is putting a terrible curse upon this fair country of Japan! The Great Teachers Kobo and Jikaku were misled by these teachings and have brought this country to the brink of ruin. Though a country may be destined to be destroyed in two or three years anyway, if one has the Shingon priests offer up prayers for its safety, then it will be attacked before a year or even half a year is out!" These are the things I told him.
 

Being so fiercely hated merely for trying to give advice that would save others, I suppose that, when I was pardoned from exile, I should have left Sado and hidden myself somewhere far off in the midst of the mountains or by the distant seashore. But instead I went to Kamakura, because I hoped to explain the situation one last time to Hei no Saimon and thereby save those people who might manage to survive an attack on Japan. After offering my admonition, I knew I should not remain any longer in Kamakura and so I set off, letting my feet carry me where they wished. And since you were on the way, I thought how much I would like to see all of you once more, even though it might be an imposition. But though the thought came to me a thousand times, I found my heart torn by conflicting considerations, and in the end I passed you by.
 

The reason is this. The province of Suruga is the domain of the lord of Sagami, and the Fuji area in particular is full of those related to the widows of high-ranking officials. These people bear me great rancor because they look upon me as an enemy of the late lay priests of Saimyo-ji and Gokuraku-ji. I was afraid that, if they heard I had visited you, it would bring grief to you all. Even up until now, I have feared causing trouble for you and so did not reply to your earlier communication. I have repeatedly warned the priests not under any circumstances to go anywhere near the area of Kajima in Fuji, and yet even so, I am apprehensive about what may happen.
 

As to this matter of the Shingon sect, I suppose you may have doubts. No matter how I explain it in terms of doctrine, you may find it hard to follow me. However, you should understand from the facts before your very eyes!
 

The Retired Emperor of Oki was the eighty-second sovereign. He reigned more than two thousand years after the time of Emperor Jimmu; he was the Sun Goddess manifested in human form. Who would venture to oppose such a ruler?
 

Moreover, from the time of Emperor Kimmei to that of the Retired Emperor of Oki, the various great doctrines and secret doctrines of Buddhism, introduced from China, Paekche, Silla and Koguryo, were revered and preserved at Mount Hiei, To-ji, Onjo-ji, the seven major temples of Nara, and elsewhere throughout Japan. All this was done to protect the nation and to guard the safety of its ruler.
 

The Retired Emperor of Oki, vexed that power had been seized by Kamakura, enlisted the aid of the high-ranking priests of Mount Hiei, To-ji and other temples, and set them to performing rituals for the demise of Yoshitoki. This continued not for just a year or two, but for years on end, the priests praying and casting their spells. Yet the Gon no Tayu never so much as dreamed of what was happening, and did not for his part have a single prayer ritual conducted. Perhaps he thought that, even if such a ritual were to be performed, it would prove ineffective. In any event, the Son of Heaven was defeated in battle and exiled to the island province of Oki.
 

One who becomes the sovereign of Japan embodies the living spirit of the Sun Goddess; he becomes ruler by virtue of the power of the ten good precepts he has observed in previous existences. How then could anyone among the common people of the country possibly overthrow him? To illustrate, even if a father should be at fault, it would be like a son who is blameless hating a father who is culpable. Even though the father might be guilty of some grave error, would Heaven ever permit the son to punish him?
 

Then, what grave error caused the Retired Emperor of Oki to meet with this shame? It came about solely because he allied himself with the Shingon priests of Japan, who are the deadly enemies of the Lotus Sutra!
 

All the Shingon priests go through a secret ritual called kanjo, in which pictures of Shakyamuni Buddha and others are painted on an eight-petaled lotus and the participant treads on them with his feet. And because those who took part in this bizarre ritual were treated with reverence by the Retired Emperor of Oki as the supervisors of various temples, power passed into the hands of his common subjects and he met with disgrace in this life.
 

Now this great evil doctrine of Shingon has spread to the region of Kamakura, deceiving the members of the ruling clan and threatening to bring about the destruction of Japan. This is a matter of the gravest import, and I have not discussed it even with my disciples. Instead I have dissembled, pretending ignorance and filling their ears only with attacks upon Nembutsu and Zen. But since my own admonitions continue to go unheeded, without begrudging my life, I will in addition tell my disciples what the true situation is.
 

When I do so, they will be even more perplexed than ever. [They will say that] no matter how admirable or worthy of respect Nichiren may be, he can scarcely surpass Jikaku and Kobo. I fear I will never succeed in banishing all their doubts. How can I dispel them?
 

When all others may hate me, the fact that you have placed even a bit of trust in me and, moreover, have come all the way here to visit me, cannot be ascribed to the karma of your present life alone. Surely we must share some bond from a previous existence!
 

I am much distressed to hear that your illness has become so serious. However, swords exit to cut down enemies, and medicine exists to cure sickness. King Ajatashatru murdered his father and made himself an enemy of the Buddha. But after foul sores broke out on his body, he converted to the Buddha's teachings and embraced the Lotus Sutra, whereupon his sores healed and he prolonged his life by forty years.
 

Moreover, the Lotus Sutra states that it is "beneficial medicine for the illnesses of all the people of Jambudvipa." The people of this world of ours, the continent of Jambudvipa, are suffering from illness, but the Lotus Sutra will be their medicine. Now in your case, the three requirements are already present, so how could you fail to recover? But if you cherish doubts, then it is beyond my power to help you. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
 

Please have Kakujo-bo and Hoki-bo read this to you from time to time and listen well, listen well!
 

Nichiren
 

The twelfth day of the seventh month
 

Reply sent to His Lordship Takahashi Rokuro Hyoe Nyudo
 

Reply to the Followers

Your messenger, who left on the nineteenth day of the third month, arrived here with your letter at the Hour of the Dog (around 8:00 P.M.) on the twenty-first. Now Nichiren’s lifelong prayer and desire will be achieved in an instant. And this fits the Buddha’s prediction regarding the fifth five hundred years, just as one half of a tally matches the other. In the end, if the slanderous proponents of the Shingon, Zen and other sects are summoned and brought together to confront me, and right and wrong are decided, the people of Japan will all become my disciples and followers. Of my disciples, the priests will become teachers to the emperors and retired emperors, while the lay believers will be ranked as the ministers of the left and right. And moreover, everyone in the entire land of Jambudvipa will come to revere this teaching. What happiness! What happiness!

Nichiren

The twenty-first day of the third month in the first year of Koan (1278)

Reply to the Followers
 

Reply to the Mother of Lord Ueno
 

I have received the offerings that you sent for the forty-ninth day ceremony marking the passing of your son, the late Nanjo Shichiro Goro. As noted on the list, they consist of two strings of coins, one horseload of polished rice, one horseload of yams, pounded bean curd, konnyaku, one basket of persimmons, fifty citrons and other items. For the sake of your son’s repose, I have recited the entire Lotus Sutra once and the Jigage several times, and chanted the daimoku a hundred thousand times.

 
The sutra known as the Lotus Sutra is a scripture that has no match among all the sacred teachings of the Buddha’s lifetime. And, as indicated by its words "between Buddhas" it can only be understood between one Buddha and another. Those at the stage of near-perfect enlightenment or below, on down to ordinary mortals, cannot fathom it. This is why Bodhisattva Nagarjuna stated in his Daichido ron that persons below the level of Buddha should simply have faith, and in that way they can attain Buddhahood.

 
In the Hosshi chapter in the fourth volume of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha states: "Yakuo, now I say to you, I have preached various sutras, and among those sutras the Lotus is the foremost!" In the fifth volume it says: "Monjushiri, this Lotus Sutra is the secret storehouse of the Buddhas, the Thus Come Ones."

 
Among the sutras, it holds the highest place. In the seventh volume we read: "...so this Lotus Sutra is likewise. Among all the sutras, it holds the highest place." And we also read: "This sutra shines the brightest ... it is the most honored."

 
These passages of scripture do not represent some doctrine that I have put forward on my own. They are the truthful words of the Buddha, and hence it is impossible that they could be in error.

 
If someone born to a commoner family should claim that he stands equal to a samurai, he would surely be faulted. And how much more so if he should claim that he is equal to the ruler of the nation, or even superior to the ruler! Not only would he himself be punished, but his father and mother and his wife and children would be made to suffer as well. It is like the case of a great fire that burns down houses, or of a great tree that, in falling, brings down the little trees around it as well.

 
It is the same with the Buddhist teachings. People who rely on the various sutras expounded in the Kegon, Agon, Hodo and Hannya periods, such as the Dainichi or the Amida Sutra, regard the one they believe in as best, without distinguishing the relative worth of the sutras. Thus they say, "Our Amida Sutra is equal to the Lotus Sutra," or "It is superior." Fellow believers, hearing their own sutra praised in this way, think it is a cause for joy. On the contrary, however, they are committing a serious offense, and the teachers of such doctrines, their disciples and their lay followers will fall as swiftly as flying arrows into the evil paths.

 
However, those who declare that the Lotus Sutra is superior to all the other sutras are justified in doing so. In fact, they will enjoy great benefits. This is because their declaration accords with what the sutra itself says.

 
Prefacing the Lotus Sutra is a work called the Muryogi Sutra. It is like the vanguard of generals who go before the procession of a great king to quell disturbances. This Muryogi Sutra states: "In these more than forty years, I have not yet revealed the truth." These words are like the great bows that the generals carry to drive away the king’s enemies with arrows, or the swords with which they cut those enemies down. They are like a royal proclamation, sharp as a sword, directed to the members of the Kegon sect who read only the Kegon Sutra, the priests of the Ritsu sect with their Agon sutras, the Nembutsu believers with their Kammuryoju Sutra, and the Shingon teachers with their Dainichi Sutra, chastising them for failing to follow the Lotus Sutra and bringing them to submission. They are like Yoshiie attacking Sadato, or Yoritomo destroying the forces of Kiyomori. These words of the Muryogi Sutra, "In these more than forty years..." are the sword and rope of King Fudo, or the bow and arrows of King Aizen.

 
When the late Nanjo Goro made his way across the mountains of death and the river of three crossings, the soldiers who escorted him and repulsed the mountain bandits of earthly desires and the pirates of past offenses and allowed him to proceed safely to the pure land of Eagle Peak were these words of the Muryogi Sutra: "In these more than forty years, I have not yet revealed the truth."

 
The Hoben chapter in the first volume of the Lotus Sutra states: "The World-Honored One has long expounded his doctrines and now must reveal the truth." And it also says: "[I] ... honestly discarding expedient means, will preach only the unsurpassed way." In the fifth volume we read: "Only the bright jewel that is in his topknot..." "This one jewel exists only on the top of the king’s head," and "...the way that powerful ruler did when he took the bright jewel he had guarded for so long and finally gave it away."

 
The import of these passages is this. The great collection of scriptures has been brought to this country of Japan, numbering 7,399 volumes, and each one of these various scriptures is a follower and retainer of the Lotus Sutra. To illustrate, the men and women in this country of Japan number 4,994,828, but all are subjects of one man, the ruler of the country.
 

As for the significance of these various scriptures, let me give an analogy that even an uncomprehending woman can understand immediately. Suppose that one is building a great pagoda. In addition to the lumber to be used in the pagoda itself, one gathers together a large quantity of small timbers and uses them to build a scaffolding ten or twenty feet in height. After one has done this, one uses the original lumber to construct the pagoda. And when the pagoda is completed, one then removes the scaffolding and discards it, leaving the pagoda in place.

 
Now the scaffolding represents the various other sutras, and the great pagoda, the Lotus Sutra. When the Buddha preached the other sutras, he was in effect erecting a scaffolding in preparation for the preaching of the Lotus Sutra.

 
In the same manner as the sutra describes when it says, "honestly discarding expedient means," persons who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra should first cast aside and fling away the Namu Amida Butsu invocation based on the Amida and other sutras, the teachings of the Shingon sect based on the Dainichi and other sutras, and the two hundred and fifty precepts of the Ritsu sect based on the Agon sutras and other teachings, and then they should embrace the Lotus Sutra alone. When one is preparing to build a great pagoda, the scaffolding is of great importance. But once the pagoda is completed, then the scaffolding is removed and thrown away. This is the meaning of the passage about "honestly discarding expedient means."

 
Though the scaffolding is necessary to complete the pagoda, no one would ever dream of discarding the pagoda and worshipping the scaffolding. And yet the persons who seek the way in the world today spend their whole lives reciting Namu Amida Butsu only, and never once chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. They are like persons who discard the pagoda and worship the scaffolding. They are examples of the secular saying -- seemingly wise, but actually foolish.

 
The late Shichiro Goro did not take after other people in Japan today. Though he was still a youth, he followed in the footsteps of his sagacious father. And at an early age, having not yet turned twenty, he began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and thus he became a Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says, "... then not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood." I hope that if you, his loving mother, are thinking with longing about your son, you will chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and pray to be reborn in the same place as the late Shichiro Goro and your husband, the late Lord Nanjo.

 
Seeds of one species are after all seeds of the same species, while seeds of a different species are seeds of a different species. If all of you nurture the seeds of Myoho-renge-kyo in your hearts, then you all will be reborn in the land of Myoho-renge-kyo. When the three of you are reunited there face to face, how great your joy will be!
 

Now when we open the Lotus Sutra and read what it says, we find these words: "The Thus Come One will cover them with his robe, and they will also be protected and kept in mind by the Buddhas who are now present in other regions."

 
The meaning of this passage is that the Buddhas of the ten directions will all assemble in throngs and fill in the lands to the east, west, north and south, in the eight directions, the major world system and all the four hundred billion nayutas of lands. They will be seated side by side like the stars in the heavens or the rows of rice and hemp plants on the earth, and will guard and protect the votaries of the Lotus Sutra just as the various ministers and subjects guard and protect the heir of a great ruler.

 
To be guarded by the Four Heavenly Kings and their retainers is a great honor. But with the protection of all the numberless Four Heavenly Kings, all the stars and constellations, all the deities of the sun and moon, all the Taishakus and Bontens, one can be completely confident. Moreover, all the persons of the two vehicles, all the bodhisattvas, Bodhisattva Miroku in the inner court of the Tushita heaven, Bodhisattva Jizo on Mount Kharadiya, Bodhisattva Kanzeon on Mount Potalaka, and Bodhisattva Monjushiri on Mount Clear and Cool, each together with all their followers, will guard and protect the votaries of the Lotus Sutra, so one may indeed rest assured. And furthermore, Shakyamuni, Taho and all the other Buddhas of the ten directions will come of their own accord and watch over one through all the hours of the day and night, which is an honor beyond the power of words to express.

 
It was this splendid sutra that the late Goro put his faith in and through which he attained Buddhahood. And today, on the forty-ninth day following his passing, all the Buddhas have surely gathered about him in the pure land of Eagle Peak, seating him on their palms, stroking his head, embracing him and rejoicing, welcoming him with affection as one would welcome a moon that has just risen or blossoms that have just burst into bloom.

 
When we consider why the Buddhas of the three existences and the ten directions should so firmly protect the Lotus Sutra, we come to understand that it is only natural. For the Lotus Sutra is the father and mother of the Buddhas of the three existences and the ten directions; it is their wet nurse and their lord.

 
The creatures called frogs feed on the sound of their mother’s voice, and if they are not able to hear their mother’s voice, they will not grow. The insect called a kalakula feeds on wind, and if the wind does not blow, it will not grow. Fish must have water, and birds depend upon trees to build their nests in. In the same way, for the Buddhas, the Lotus Sutra is their source of life, their sustenance and their dwelling. As fish live in water, so the Buddhas live in this sutra. As birds dwell in trees, so the Buddhas dwell in this sutra. As the moon’s reflection lodges in the water, so the Buddhas lodge in this sutra. You should understand that in a land where this sutra does not exist, there can be no Buddhas.

 
In ancient times there lived a ruler named King Rinda who ruled over the southern continent of Jambudvipa. What was it that this king required for sustenance? He listened to the neighing of white horses, and this became his food. As long as the white horses neighed, he grew more youthful, his complexion glowed, his spirit was vigorous, his physical strength remained undiminished, and he was able to conduct the affairs of state justly. Therefore, a great many white horses were gathered and cared for in his country. In this respect, he was like the ruler of Wei, who gathered a great many cranes, or Emperor Te-tsung, who loved fireflies. The white horses would neigh only if there were white swans who were singing, and, accordingly, a number of white swans were also gathered.

 
One time for some reason all the white swans disappeared, and, as a result, the white horses no longer neighed. So the king’s sustenance came to an end, and he was like full-blown blossoms that wilt under the dew, or a round moon that becomes shrouded in clouds. When it became apparent that the king was about to expire, his consort, his heir, the great ministers and all the people throughout the kingdom turned pale, like a child who has just been separated from its mother, and wet their sleeves with tears, crying, "What shall we do? What shall we do?"

 
In that country there were many non-Buddhist followers, persons like the members of the Zen sect, the Nembutsu priests, the Shingon teachers and the Ritsu priests of our own time. In addition, there were disciples of the Buddha, persons like the members of the Hokke [Lotus] sect today. These two groups were on very bad terms, as incompatible as fire and water or as hostile toward one another as the peoples called Hu and Yaeh.
 

The ruler issued a proclamation saying, "If these non-Buddhist followers cause the horses to neigh, then I will abolish the Buddhist teachings and put my faith entirely in the non-Buddhist doctrines, honoring them as the heavenly deities do Taishaku. But if the disciples of the Buddha cause the horses to neigh, then I will cut off the heads of all the non-Buddhist followers, seize their dwellings and hand them over to the disciples of the Buddha."

 
At this the non-Buddhist followers turned pale with fear, and the disciples of the Buddha fell to lamenting. But since that alone would not resolve matters, the non-Buddhist followers took their turn first. For seven days they carried out their practices, but no white swans gathered round, and the white horses failed to neigh.

 
Then it was the turn of the Buddha’s disciples, and they were assigned the next seven days for the performance of their prayers. At that time there was a young monk named Ashvaghosha or Horse Neigh, who, relying upon the Lotus Sutra, the object of the deepest respect for all the Buddhas, for seven days offered his prayers, whereupon white swans came flying to the platform where he was praying. As soon as one of these birds would utter a cry, one of the white horses would neigh. The king, hearing the sound of the neighing, rose up from his sickbed, and all the persons who had gathered there, beginning with the ruler’s consort, turned toward Ashvaghosha and bowed to him in reverence.

 
So the white swans came, one, two, three, then ten, a hundred and a thousand, filling the kingdom. And the white horses neighed, one horse, two horses, then a hundred, a thousand white horses, all constantly neighing. When the king heard this sound, his face became that of a thirty-year-old man. His mind was as clear and bright as the sun, and his administration was upright and fair, so that the rain of amrita fell down from the heavens, the common people bowed before his commands as though before a wind, and the kingdom prospered for countless ages.

 
The Buddhas are similar to this. Taho Buddha, during the time when the Lotus Sutra does not appear, remains extinct; but in an age when this sutra is recited, he makes his appearance in the world. And the same is true of Shakyamuni Buddha and all the other Buddhas of the ten directions.

 
Since the Lotus Sutra possesses this wonderful power, how could any person who upholds this sutra be abandoned by the sun Goddess, by Great Bodhisattva Hachiman, or by Great Bodhisattva Fuji Sengen? This is truly reassuring!
 

On the other hand, if a country should oppose this sutra, then no matter how sincerely its people may offer up prayers, that country will inevitably experience the seven disasters. You may be certain that it will be overthrown and destroyed by another country, like a ship that encounters a storm in the midst of the ocean, or like grass and trees that are withered by a great drought.

 
In a similar manner, in Japan today, no matter how prayers are offered up, because the people make light of Nichiren and his followers, the votaries of the Lotus Sutra, none of their various ways of praying are effective, and instead the forces of the great kingdom of the Mongols come to attack. Already the country is on the verge of destruction. Watch carefully from now on. Matters cannot continue as they are at present. You should understand once and for all that this is entirely due to the fact that the people all harbor enmity toward the Lotus Sutra.

 
It has now been forty-nine days since your son, the late Goro, passed away. Though impermanence is the way of all things, even one who merely hears the news of a persons having passed away finds it hard to bear. How much more deeply, then, must his mother or his wife grieve! I believe I can understand something of your feelings.
 

Though children may be young in years or more mature, though they may be ugly or even physically handicapped, their parents love them nonetheless. In your case, your child was a son, and in addition, he was blessed in every way, and he had a warm heart. When your husband, the late Lord Ueno, preceded you in death, he was still in the prime of life and your grief on that occasion was no shallow matter. Had you not been pregnant with his child, I know you would have followed him through fire and water. Yet when this son was safely born, you felt that it would be unthinkable to entrust his upbringing to another so that you could put an end to your life. Thus you encouraged yourself and spent the following fourteen or fifteen years raising your children.

 
How, then, are you to endure what has happened? You must have thought that in the future you would have two sons to rely upon. And yet on the fifth day of the ninth month of this year, this younger son, like the moon hidden in the clouds, like blossoms scattered by the wind, passed from sight. As you wondered whether or not you were dreaming, lamenting at how long the dream goes on, you felt that this would have two sons to rely upon. And yet on the fifth day of the ninth month of this year, this younger son, like the moon hidden in the clouds, like blossoms scattered by the wind, passed from sight. As you wondered whether or not you were dreaming, lamenting at how long the dream goes on, you felt that this dream is indeed like reality, and forty-nine days had already passed. And if it is indeed real, how will you bear it? The full-blown flower remains on the tree, while the bud just about to open has withered away. The aged mother remains behind, while the young son has departed. How heartless is the transience of the world!

 
Now you must shun and abandon this heartless world, entrusting yourself to the Lotus Sutra, in which the late Goro placed his faith, and quickly reach the eternally abiding and indestructible pure land of Eagle Peak. Your son’s father is on Eagle Peak; his mother remains in the saha world. I sympathize with the feelings of the late Goro, who is in the interval between the two of you.

 
There is much more that I would like to say, but I shall end here.
 

With my deep respect,

Nichiren
 
The twenty-fourth day of the tenth month
 
Reply to the mother of Lord Ueno
 
Reply to Tokimitsu

I have received the horseload of polished rice and ginger that you sent me.

While he was still living a secular life, Aniruddha, the son of King Dronodana, was a descendant of the wheel-turning king who was the true ruler of India, a grandson of King Simhahanu, a nephew of King Shuddhodana, and a son to King Dronodana. He was a person of noble descent known throughout the whole land. Moreover, his house was visited by twelve thousand people each day: six thousand came to borrow from the wealth of his family, and the other six thousand came to pay back what they owed. Not only was he this wealthy, but he later became foremost in divine insight, and the Buddha prophesied in the Lotus Sutra that he would become the Buddha Universal Brightness.

If we examine what great goodness he performed in past existences, we find that a long time ago there was a hunter who supported himself by capturing beasts in the mountains. He also raised millet for food, but, since he lived in a time of famine, there was almost nothing to eat. As he was eating the single bowl of millet that was his only food, a sage, a pratyekabuddha named Rida, appeared and begged him for it, saying, "I have not eaten for seven days. Let me have your food." The hunter replied, "I have put it in a vessel defiled by a common person of the secular world, and moreover have tainted the food by starting to eat it"; but the sage said, "Just let me have it. If I do not eat now, I shall die." Though ashamed of its unworthiness, the hunter offered him the food. After eating the millet, the sage returned the bowl to the hunter, having left just one grain of millet remaining. This millet turned into a wild boar. The wild boar changed into gold and the gold was transformed into a corpse. The corpse then changed into a man made of gold. Whenever the hunter pulled off one of the golden man’s fingers and sold it, a new finger would appear in its place. Thus, for ninety-one kalpas the hunter was reborn as a wealthy man, and in his present existence he was called Aniruddha and became a disciple of the Buddha. Although it was a paltry amount of millet, because it sustained the life of a sage in a famished country, he received a wonderful reward.

The Venerable Mahakashyapa was the worthiest of all the Buddha’s disciples. In terms of lineage, he was the son of the wealthy Nyagrodha of the kingdom of Magadha. The floor of his house was covered with one thousand straw mats, each seven feet thick. Even those mats of lesser quality were each worth a thousand ryo of gold. The household assets included 999 plows, each worth a thousand ryo of gold, and sixty storehouses, each with 340 koku of gold inside. Such was the immensity of his wealth. His wife had a gold-colored body, which shed light to a distance of sixteen ri. Her beauty exceeded even that of Lady Soto’ori Hime of Japan and surpassed even that of Lady Li of China. This husband and wife conceived a desire to seek the way, and became disciples of the Buddha. In the Lotus Sutra, it was predicted that the husband would become the Buddha Light Bright. If we were to inquire into the past existences of these two people, we would find that because one had offered a bowl of wheat to a pratyekabuddha, he was later born as the Venerable Mahakashyapa. The other was a poor woman who had a sculptor of Buddhist images [a previous incarnation of Mahakashyapa] beat a gold coin of hers into gilding for a statue of the Buddha Vipashyin, and who later became this person’s wife.

Although I, Nichiren, am not a sage, I have become known as the defender of the Lotus Sutra. For this, not only have I been hated and assailed by the ruler of the country, but my disciples and even those who visit me have been reviled or struck, or have had their fiefs confiscated, or have been driven from their dwellings. Because they live under such a ruler, even people with seeking minds do not visit me. This has been the case for some time, but this year, in particular, because of epidemics and famine, very few people have come to visit.

Just as I was thinking that, even if I remained free from illness, I would surely die of starvation, the wheat that you sent arrived. It is more wonderful than gold and more precious than jewels. Rida’s millet changed into a golden man. How, then, could Tokimitsu’s wheat fail to turn into the characters of the Lotus Sutra? These characters of the Lotus Sutra will become Shakyamuni Buddha and then a pair of wings for your deceased father, flying and soaring to the pure land of Eagle Peak. On returning, they will cover your body and guide you.

With my deep respect,
Nichiren

The eighth day of the seventh month in the first year of Koan (1278)
Reply to Lord Ueno
 

Reply to Yasaburo

In your letter you say, "Although I am an ignorant layman, among the teachings I have heard from you, I was especially impressed by the passage in the second volume of the Lotus Sutra that says, 'Now this threefold world [is all my domain...]'" This passage means that this present country of Japan is the domain of Shakyamuni Buddha. Not only do the Sun Goddess, Great Bodhisattva Hachiman, Emperor Jimmu and all the other gods as well as the ruler of the nation on down to the common people all dwell within his realm, but he is a Buddha to whom we are greatly indebted on three accounts. First, he is our sovereign; second, he is our teacher; and third, he is our parent. Among all the Buddhas of the ten directions, only Shakyamuni Buddha is endowed with these three virtues. Therefore, even if all the people of the country of Japan were to serve Shakyamuni Buddha wholeheartedly just as they now do Amida Buddha, because they would be placing him side by side with another Buddha and treating him in the same manner, that would still be a grave error. For example, though someone were one's own ruler and a wise man besides, if one were to shift one's allegiance to the king of another country, and while dwelling in Japan pay honor to the King of China or Koguryo and slight the sovereign of Japan, could such a person be called one who honors the great sovereign of this country?

This is all the more true in the case of the priests of Japan, who without exception have shaved their heads and donned their robes as disciples of the Tathagata Shakyamuni. They are not the disciples of Amida Buddha. Nevertheless, priests who have no halls in their temples where Shakyamuni is enshrined or where the Lotus Sutra meditation is practiced, or who have no painted or wooden images [of Shakyamuni] nor even a copy of the Lotus Sutra, are setting aside Shakyamuni Buddha, who is endowed with all three virtues. Throughout the country, in each district, village and household, they erect more images than there are people of Amida Buddha, who possesses not a single one of these virtues, and chant the name of Amida Buddha exclusively, sixty or eighty thousand times a day. Although such acts appear to be most admirable, when we view the matter in light of the Lotus Sutra, we find that these pious people are guilty of offenses heavier than those of wicked men who commit the ten evil acts daily. Impious men do not rely on any Buddha whatsoever, so they cannot be accused of having changed their loyalties. Moreover, if they should become pious people, they might even devote themselves to the Lotus Sutra. Yet it seems impossible that the people of Japan today could ever incline their hearts with more seriousness and affection toward Shakyamuni Buddha than toward Amida Buddha, or toward the Lotus Sutra than toward the Nembutsu. Thus, they are evildoers who only resemble virtuous people. And among evildoers, they are the worst of the most terrible slanderers and icchantika in all the world. Concerning such people, Shakyamuni Buddha declared in the second volume of the Lotus Sutra, "After they die, they will fall into the hell of incessant suffering."

The priests of Japan today are all men of great evil, surpassing even Devadatta or the Venerable Kokalika. And because lay people revere them and make them offerings, this country is being transformed before our eyes into the hell of incessant suffering. Countless people are in their present bodies undergoing starvation and pestilence, horrible agonies such as were never known in previous ages, and in addition, they will be attacked by a foreign power. This is due solely to the workings of Bonten, Taishaku, the gods of the sun and moon, and other deities.

In all Japan, I, Nichiren, alone have understood why such things are happening. At first I pondered whether or not I should speak out. Yet what was I to do? Could I turn my back on the teachings of the Buddha who is father and mother to all living beings? Resolving to bear whatever might befall me, I began to speak out, and in these more than twenty years I have been driven from my dwelling, my disciples have been killed, I have been wounded, exiled twice and finally came close to being beheaded. I spoke out solely because I have long known that the people of Japan would meet with great suffering and felt pity for them. Thoughtful persons should therefore realize that I have met these trials for their sake. If they were people who understood their obligations or who were capable of reason, then out of two blows that fall upon me, they would receive one in my stead. But far from it--rather, they arouse hatred toward me, which is something I cannot understand. And lay people, not having heard the truth of matters, drive me from my dwelling place or hate my disciples. It is beyond comprehension. For example, even if one unknowingly mistook his parent for an enemy and reviled or struck and killed him, how could he escape the guilt of that offense? These people do not recognize their own belligerence but instead think that I, Nichiren, am belligerent. They are like a jealous woman who glares with furious eyes at a courtesan and, unaware of her own disagreeable expression, complains that the courtesan's gaze is frightening.

These things have happened solely because the ruler failed to inquire of me [about the truth of the Buddhist doctrines]. The reason he did not investigate is because the people of this country are guilty of so many offenses that their evil karma has destined them without fail to be attacked by a foreign country in this present existence and to fall into the hell of incessant suffering in the next--[you should explain matters in this way].

Then declare to your opponent: "I believe all this because it is clearly apparent in the sutras. Even though you may attack and threaten worthless persons such as ourselves or drive us from our homes, in the end you will never get away with it. Not even the Sun Goddess or Bodhisattva Hachiman could compel the obedience of this priest [Nichiren], let alone common mortals! Thus we hear that he has never quailed in the face of successive persecutions but has become all the more firmly determined."

If that priest says something in reply, respond by asking if what you have just said is to be accounted a distorted view. Ask him if the Lotus Sutra does not indeed contain a passage to the effect that Shakyamuni Buddha is our parent, our teacher and our sovereign. If he says that it does, demand to know if there is another passage stating that Amida Buddha is his parent, sovereign and teacher: Yes or no? If he replies that such a sutra passage exists, inquire if he then has two fathers. If he says that there is no such passage, then demand to know why he has abandoned his parent and is cherishing another person altogether. In addition, you should assert that the Lotus Sutra in no way resembles the other sutras, quoting the passage, "In these more than forty years, [I have not yet revealed the truth.]" If he cites the passage, "She shall directly go to the tranquil and happy land," then demand to know if this means that he yields the point on which you have just cornered him, and if so you should further explain the meaning of this passage.
You must be firmly resolved. Do not begrudge your fief; do not think of your wife and children. Do not endanger the Dharma by relying upon others. You should simply make up your mind. Look at the world this year as a mirror. When so many have died, the fact that you have survived until now was in order that you might meet this opportunity. Here is where you will cross the Uji River. Here is where you will ford the Seta. This event will determine whether you win honor or whether you disgrace your name. It is said that human form is hard to obtain and that the Lotus Sutra is difficult to believe. Be resolved that Shakyamuni, Taho and the Buddhas of the ten directions will all gather and enter into your body to assist you. If you should be summoned to see the steward, you should first explain all this thoroughly.

With my deep respect,
Nichiren

The fourth day of the eighth month in the third year of Kenji (1277), cyclical sign hinoto-ushi
 

Rissho Ankoku Ron  

Once there was a traveler who spoke these words in sorrow
to his host:

In recent years, there are unusual disturbances in the
heavens, strange occurrences on earth, famine and pestilence, all
affecting every corner of the empire and spreading throughout the
land.  Oxen and horses lie dead in the streets, the bones of the
stricken crowd the highways.  Over half the population has
already been carried off by death, and in every family someone
grieves.

All the while some put their whole faith in the "sharp
sword" of the Buddha Amida and intone this name of the lord of
the Western Paradise; others believe that the Buddha Yakushi will
"heal all ills," and recite the sutra that describes him as
the Tathagata of the Eastern Region.  Some, putting their trust
in the passage in the Lotus Sutra that says, "Illness will vanish
immediately, and he will find perpetual youth and eternal
life," pay homage to the wonderful words of that Sutra;
others, citing the passage in the Ninno Sutra that reads: "The
seven difficulties vanish, the seven blessings at once
appear," conduct ceremonies at which a hundred preachers
expound the sutra at a hundred places.  There are those who
follow the secret teachings of the Shingon sect and conduct
rituals by filling five jars with water; and others who devote
themselves entirely to Zen-type meditation and perceive the
emptiness of all phenomena as clearly as the moon.  Some write
out the names of the seven guardian spirits and paste them on
a thousand gates, others paint pictures of the five mighty
bodhisattvas and hang them over ten thousand thresholds, and
still others pray to the gods of heaven and the deities of earth
in ceremonies conducted at the four corners of the capital and
on the four boundaries of the nation; certain that government on
the national and local levels is carried out in a benevolent
manner.

But despite all these efforts,they merely exhaust
themselves in vain.  Famine and disease rage more fiercely than
ever, beggars are everywhere in sight, and scenes of death fill
our eyes.  Cadavers pile up in mounds like observation platforms,
dead bodies lie side by side like planks on a bridge.

If we look about, we find that the sun and moon continue
to move in their accustomed orbits, and the five planets
follow the proper course.  The three treasures of Buddhism
continue to exist, and the period of a hundred reigns [during
which the Bodhisattva Hachiman vowed to protect the nation]
has not yet expired.  Then why is it that the world has already
fallen into decline and that the laws of the state have come to
an end?  What is wrong?  What error has been committed?

The host then spoke: I have been brooding alone upon this
matter, indignant in my heart, but now that you have come, we can
lament together.  Let us discuss the question at length.

When a man leaves family life and enters the Buddhist
way, it is because he hopes to attain Buddhahood through the
teachings of the Dharma.  But attempts now to move the gods fail
to have any effect, and appeals to the power of the Buddhas
produce no results.  When I observe carefully the state of the
world today, I see ignorant people who give way to doubts because
of their naivete.  Therefore they look up at the heavens and
mouth their resentment, or gaze down at the earth and sink deep
into anxiety.

I have pondered the matter carefully with what limited
resources I possess, and have searched rather widely in the
scriptures for an answer.  The people of today all turn their
backs upon what is right; to a man, they give their allegiance to
evil.  That is the reason why the benevolent deities have
abandoned the nation, why sages leave and do not return, and in
their stead come devils and demons, disasters and calamities that
arise one after another.  I cannot keep silent on this matter.  I
cannot suppress my fears.

The guest said: These disasters that befall the empire,
these calamities of the nation -- I am not the only one pained by
them; the whole populace is weighed down with sorrow.  Now I have
been privileged to enter your home and to listen to these
enlightening words of yours.  You speak of the gods and sages
taking leave and of disasters and calamities arising side by side
-- upon what sutras do you base your views?  Could you describe
for me the passages of proof?

The host said: There are numerous passages that could be
cited and a wide variety of proofs.  For example, in the Konkomyo
Sutra we read: "[The Four Heavenly Kings said to the Buddha,]
'Though this sutra exists in the nation, the rulers have never
allowed it to be propagated.  In their hearts they turn away from
it, and they take no pleasure in hearing its teachings.  They do
not serve it, respect it, or sing its praises.  Nor are they
willing to respect ... or give material support to the four kinds
of Buddhist who embrace the sutra.  In the end, they have
made it impossible for us and the countless other heavenly beings
who are our followers to hear the teachings of this profound and
wonderful Dharma.  They have deprived us of the sweet dew of its
words and cut us off from the flow of the True Law, so that our
majesty and strength are drained away.  Thus the number of beings
who occupy the four evil paths increases and the number who enjoy
the human and heavenly states decreases.  People fall into the
river of birth and death and turn their backs on the road to
nirvana.

"'World-Honored One, we, the Four Heavenly Kings, as well
as our various followers and the yakshas and other beings,
observing this state of affairs, have decided to abandon this
nation, for we have no more heart to protect it.  And it is not
we alone who cast aside these rulers.  All the great benevolent
deities who guard and watch over the countless different regions
of the country will also invariably reject them.  And once we and
the others have abandoned and deserted this country and the
rulers will fall from power.  Not a single person in the entire
population will possess a heart of goodness; there will be
nothing but binding and enslaving, killing and injuring, anger
and contention.  Men will slander each other or fawn upon one
another, and the laws will be twisted until even the innocent are
made to suffer.  Pestilence will become rampant, comets will
appear again and again, two suns will come forth side by side and
eclipses will occur with unaccustomed frequency. Black arcs and
white arcs will span the sky as harbingers of
ill fortune, stars will fall, the earth will shake, and noises
will issue from the wells.  Torrential rains and violent winds
will come out of season, there will be constant famine, and
grains and fruits will not ripen.  Marauders from many other
regions will invade and plunder the nation, the people will
suffer all manner of pain and affliction, and there will be no
place where one may live in safety.'"

The Daijuku Sutra says: "When the principles of Buddhism
truly become obscured and lost, then people will all let their
beards, hair and fingernails grow long, and the laws of the world
will be forgotten and ignored.  At this time, loud noises will
sound in the air and the earth will shake; everything in the
world will begin to move as though it were a waterwheel. City
walls will split and tumble, and all houses and dwellings will
collapse.  Roots, branches, leaves, petals and fruits will lose
their medicinal properties.  With the exception of the five
highest heavens in the world of form, all the regions of the
worlds of form and desire will become deprived of the seven
flavors and the three essences that nourish life and
human society, until nothing remains alive any more.  All the
good discourses that lead men to emancipation will at this time
disappear.  The flowers and fruits that grow in the earth will
become few and will lose their flavor and sweetness.  The wells,
springs and ponds will all go dry, the land everywhere will turn
brackish and will crack open and warp into hillocks and gullies.
All the mountains will be swept by fire and the heavenly dragons
will no longer send down rain.  The crops will all wither and
die, all living creatures will perish, and even the grass will
cease to grow any more.  Dust will rain down until all is
darkness and the sun and the moon no longer shed their light.

"All the four directions will be afflicted by drought,
and evil omens will appear again and again.  The ten kinds of
evil behavior will increase greatly, particularly greed,
anger and stupidity, and people will think no more of their
fathers and mothers than does the roe deer.  Living beings will
decline in numbers, in longevity, physical power and enjoyment.
They will become estranged from the pleasures of human and
heavenly existence and all will fall into the evil states of
existence.  The wicked rulers and monks who perform these ten
kinds of evil behavior will destroy the True Law of the Buddha
and make it impossible for sentient beings to be born in the
human and heavenly states of existence.  At that time the various
benevolent deities and heavenly rulers, who would ordinarily take
pity on living beings, will abandon this nation of confusion and
evil and all will make their way to other regions." 

The Ninno Sutra states: "When a nation becomes
disordered, it is the spirits which first show signs of
rampantcy.  Because these spirits become rampant, all the people
of the nation become disordered.  Invaders come to plunder the
country and the common people face annihilation.  The ruler, the
high ministers, the heir apparent and the other princes and
government officials all quarrel with each other over right and
wrong.  Heaven and earth manifest prodigies and strange
occurrences; the twenty-eight constellations, the stars, the
sun and the moon appear at irregular times and in irregular
positions, and numerous outlaws rise up."

The same sutra also states: "When I look at the three
ages of past, present and future with the five types of vision, I
see that all the rulers of nations were able to attain the
position of emperor or king because in past existences they
served five hundred Buddhas.  And this is the reason that all the
various sages and arhats are born in their nations and are
assisting them to gain great advantage.  But if a time should
come when the good fortune of these rulers runs out, then all the
sages will abandon them and depart.  And once the sages have
departed, then the seven disasters are certain to arise."

The Yakushi Sutra states: "If disasters and calamities
should befall members of the ruling kshatriya class and
anointed kings, such disasters will be as follows: the
calamity of disease and pestilence among the populace; the
calamity of invasion and plunder from foreign lands; the calamity
of revolt within one's own domain; the calamity of irregularities
and strange occurrences among the stars and constellations; the
calamity of eclipses of the sun and moon; the calamity of
unseasonable wind and rain; and the calamity of rain that fails
to fall even when the season for it has come and gone."

In the Ninno Sutra, the Buddha addresses [King
Prasenajit] in these words: "Great King, the region where my
teachings now hold sway consists of a hundred billion Sumeru
worlds with a hundred billion suns and moons.  Each of these
Sumeru worlds comprises four great continents.  In the empire of
the south, which is Jambudvipa, there are sixteen great nations,
five hundred medium-sized nations, and ten thousand small
nations.  In these nations, there are seven types of fearful
calamities that may occur.  All the rulers of these nations agree
that these are indeed calamities.  What, then, are these
calamities?

"When the sun and moon depart from their regular courses,
when the seasons come in the wrong order, when a red sun or a
black sun appears, when two, three, four or five suns appear at
the same time, when the sun is eclipsed and loses its light,
or when one, two, three, four or five coronas appear around the
sun, this is the first calamity.

"When the twenty-eight constellations do not move in
their regular courses, when the Metal Star, when the Broom
Star, the Wheel Star, the Demon Star, the Fire Star, the Water
Star, the Wind Star, the Ladle Star, the Southern Dipper, the
Northern Dipper, the great stars of the Five Garrisons, and all
the many stars that govern the ruler, the three high ministers
and the hundred other officials -- when each of these stars
manifests some peculiar behavior, this is the second calamity.

"When huge fires consume the nation and the people are
all burned to death, or when there are outbreaks of demon fire,
dragon fire, heavenly fire, mountain god fire, human fire, tree
fire or bandit fire -- when these prodigies appear, this is
the third calamity.

"When huge floods drown the population, when the seasons
come out of order and there is rain in winter, snow in summer,
thunder and lightning in the winter season and ice, frost and
hail in the sixth month, when red, black or green rain falls,
when mountains of dirt and stones come raining down, or when it
rains dust, sand or gravel, when the rivers and streams run
backward, when mountains are afloat and boulders are washed away
-- when freakish happenings of this kind occur, this is the
fourth calamity.

"When huge winds blow the people to their death and the
lands, the mountains and rivers and the trees and forests are all
at one time wiped out, when great winds come out of season or
when black winds, red winds, green winds, heavenly winds, earthly
winds, fire winds and water winds blow -- when prodigies of this
kind occur, this is the fifth calamity.

"When heaven and earth and the whole country are stricken
by terrible heat so that the air seems to be on fire, when the
hundred plants wither and the five grains fail to ripen, when
the earth is red and scorched and the inhabitants all perish --
when prodigies of this kind occur, this is the sixth calamity.

"When enemies rise up on all four sides and invade the
nation, when rebels appear both within the ruler's family and
without, when there are fire bandits, water bandits, wind bandits
and demon bandits and the population is subjected to
devastation and disorder, and fighting and plundering break out
everywhere -- when prodigies of this type occur, this is the
seventh calamity."

The Daijuku Sutra says: "Though the ruler of a state may
have for countless existences in the past practiced the giving of
alms, observed the precepts and abided by the principles of
wisdom, if he sees that my Law, the Dharma of the Buddha, is in
danger of perishing and stands idly by without doing anything to
protect it, then all the inestimable store of good causes that he
has accumulated through the practices just mentioned will be
entirely wiped out, and his country will become the scene of
three inauspicious occurrences.  The first is high grain prices,
the second is warfare, and the third is pestilence.  All the
benevolent deities will abandon the country, and although the
king may issue commands, the people will not obey them.  The
country will constantly be invaded and vexed by neighboring
nations.  Violent fires will rage out of control, evil winds and
rains will abound, the waters will swell and overflow, and the
inhabitants will be blown about by winds or swept away by floods.
The paternal and maternal relatives of the ruler will join in
plotting revolt.  Before long, the ruler will fall gravely ill,
and after his life has come to an end, he will be reborn in one
of the major hells .... And the same fate will befall the ruler's
consort, his heir, the high ministers of the state, the lords of
cities, the village heads and generals, the magistrates of
districts, and the government officials."

The passages I have quoted from these four sutras are
perfectly clear -- what person in ten thousand could possibly
doubt their meaning?  And yet the blind and the deluded trust to
heretical doctrines and fail to recognize the correct teachings.
Therefore, throughout the empire these days people are inclined
to turn away from the Buddhas and the sutras and no longer
endeavor to protect them.  In turn, the benevolent deities and
sages abandon the nation and leave their accustomed places. As a
result, demons and followers of heretical doctrines create
disaster and inflict calamity upon the populace.

The guest thereupon flushed with anger and said: Emperor
Ming of the Later Han dynasty, having comprehended the
significance of his dream of a golden man, welcomed the teachings
of Buddhism brought to China by missionaries leading white
horses.  Prince Shotoku, having punished Mononobe no
Moriya for his opposition to Buddhism, proceeded to construct
temples and pagodas in Japan.  Since that time, from the supreme
ruler down to the numberless masses, people have worshiped the
Buddhist statues and devoted their attention to the scriptures.
As a result, in the monasteries of Mount Hiei and of the
southern capital at Nara, at the great temples of Onjo-ji and
To-ji, throughout the land within the four seas, in the five
areas adjacent to the capital and the seven outlying regions,
Buddhist scriptures have been ranged like stars in the sky and
halls of worship have spread over the land like clouds.  Those
who belong to the lineage of Shariputra meditate on the moon
atop Eagle Peak, while those who adhere to the traditions of
Haklenayasha transmit the teachings of Mount Kukkutapada.
How, then, can anyone say that the doctrines of Shakyamuni are
despised or that the three treasures of Buddhism are neglected?
If there is evidence to support such a contention, I would like
to hear all the facts!

The host, anxious to clarify his words, replied: To be
sure, Buddha halls stand rooftop to rooftop and sutra storehouses
are ranged eave to eave.  Priests are as numerous as bamboo
plants and rushes, monks as common as rice and hemp seedlings.
The temples and priests have been honored from centuries past,
and every day respect is paid them anew.  But the monks and
priests today are fawning and devious, and they confuse the
people and lead them astray.  The ruler and his ministers lack
understanding and fail to distinguish between truth and heresy.

The Ninno Sutra, for example, says: "Evil monks, hoping
to gain fame and profit, in many cases appear before the ruler,
the heir apparent or the other princes and take it upon
themselves to preach doctrines that lead to the violation of the
Buddhist Law and the destruction of the nation.  The rulers,
failing to perceive the truth of the situation, listen to and put
faith in such doctrines, and proceed to create regulations that
are perverse in nature and do not accord with the rules of
Buddhism discipline.  In this way they bring about the
destruction of Buddhism and of the nation."

The Nirvana Sutra says: "Bodhisattvas, have no fear in
your hearts because of such things as wild elephants.  But evil
friends -- they are what you should fear!  If you are killed by a
wild elephant, you will not fall into any of the three evil
paths.  But if evil friends lead you to your death, you are
certain to fall into one of them!"

The Lotus Sutra says: "There will be monks in that evil
age with perverse views and hearts that are fawning and crooked
who will say they have attained what they have not attained,
being proud and boastful in heart.  Or there will be
forest-dwelling monks wearing clothing of patched rags and living
in retirement who will claim they are practicing the true Way,
despising and looking down on the rest of mankind.  Greedy for
profit and nourishment, they will preach the Dharma to
white-robed laymen and will be respected and revered by the world
as though they were arhats who possess the six super natural
powers.... Constantly they will go about among the populace,
seeking in this way to slander us.  They will address the rulers,
high ministers, Brahmans and great patrons of Buddhism as well as
the other monks, slandering and speaking evil of us, saying,
'These are men of perverted views who preach the doctrines of
heretical sects!'... In a muddied kalpa, in an evil age there
will be many different things to fear.  Demons will take
possession of others and through them curse, revile and heap
shame on us.... The evil monks of that muddied age, failing to
understand the Buddha's expedient means, how he preaches the
Dharma in accord with what is appropriate, will confront us with
foul language and angry frowns; again and again we will be
banished."

In the Nirvana Sutra, the Buddha says: "After I have
passed away and countless hundreds of years have gone by, all the
sages of the four stages will also have passed away.  After
the Former Day of the Law has ended and the Middle Day of the Law
has begun, there will be monks who will give the appearance of
abiding by the rules of monastic discipline.  But they will
scarcely ever read or recite the sutras, and instead will crave
all kinds of food and drink to nourish their bodies.  Though they
wear the robes of a monk, they will go about searching for alms
like so many huntsmen, spying sharply and stalking softly.  They
will be like a cat on the prowl for mice.  And constantly they
will reiterate these words: 'I have attained the state of arhat!'
Outwardly they will seem to be wise and good, but within they
will harbor greed and jealousy.  [And when they are asked to
preach the Dharma,] they will conceal it, like Brahmans who have
taken a vow of silence.  They are not true monks -- they merely
have the appearance of monks.  Consumed by their erroneous views,
they slander the True Law."

When we look at the world in the light of these passages
of scripture, we see that the situation is just as they describe
it.  If we do not admonish the evil monks, how can we hope to do
good?

The guest, growing more indignant than ever, said: A wise
monarch, by acting in accord with heaven and earth, perfects his
rule; a sage, by distinguishing between right and wrong, brings
order to the world.  The monks and priests of the world today
enjoy the confidence of the entire empire.  If they were in fact
evil monks, then the wise ruler would put no trust in them.  If
they were not true sages, then men of worth and understanding
would not look up to them.  But now, since worthies and sages do
in fact honor and respect them, they must be nothing less than
paragons of their kind.  Why then do you pour out these wild
accusations and dare to slander them?  To whom are you referring
when you speak of "evil monks"?  I would like an explanation!

The host said: In the reign of Emperor Gotoba there was a
priest named Honen who wrote a word entitled the Senchaku Shu
states: "The Chinese priest Tao-ch'o distinguished between
the Shodo or Sacred Way teachings and the Jodo or Pure Land
teachings and urged men to abandon the former and immediately
embrace the latter.  First of all, there are two kinds of Sacred
Way teachings [the Mahayana and the Hinayana].  Judging from
this, we may assume that the esoteric Mahayana doctrines of
Shingon and the true Mahayana teachings of the Lotus Sutra are
both included in the Sacred Way.  If that is so, then the
present-day sects of Shingon, Zen, Tendai, Kegon, Sanron, Hosso,
Jiron and Shoron -- all these eight schools are included in
the Sacred Way that is to be abandoned.
"The priest T'an-luan in his Ojo Ron Chu states: 'I
note that Nagarjuna's Jujubibasha Ron says: "There are two ways
by which the bodhisattva may reach the state in which there is no
retrogression.

One is the Difficult-to-Practice-Way, the other is the
Easy-to-Practice-Way."'

 
"The Difficult-to-Practice-Way is the same as the Sacred
Way, and the Easy-to-Practice-Way is the Pure Land Way.  Students
of the Pure Land sect should first of all understand this point.
Though they may previously have studied teachings belonging to
the Sacred Way, if they wish to become followers of the Pure Land
school, they must discard the Sacred Way and give their
allegiance to the Pure Land teachings."

Honen also says: "The Chinese priest Shan-tao
distinguished between correct and incorrect practices and urged
men to embrace the former and abandon the latter.  Concerning the
first of the incorrect practices, that of reading and reciting
sutras, he states that, with the exception of the recitation of
the Kammuryoju Sutra and the other Pure Land sutras, the
embracing and recitation of all sutras, whether Mahayana or
Hinayana, exoteric or esoteric, is to be regarded as an incorrect
practice.  Concerning the third of the incorrect practices, that
of worshiping, he states that, with the exception of worshiping
the Buddha Amida, the worshiping or honoring of any of the other
Buddhas, bodhisattvas or deities of the heavenly and human worlds
is to be regarded as an incorrect practice.  In the light of this
passage, it is clear that one should abandon such incorrect
practices and concentrate upon the practice of the Pure Land
teaching.  What reason would we have to abandon the correct
practices of the Pure Land teaching, which insure that, out of a
hundred persons, all one hundred will be reborn in the Western
Paradise, and cling instead to the various incorrect practices
and procedures, which could not save even one person in a
thousand?  Followers of the Way should ponder this carefully!"

Honen further states: "In the Jogen Nyuzo Roku we
find it recorded that, from the six hundred volumes of the
Daihannya Sutra to the Hojoju Sutra, the exoteric and
esoteric sutras of Mahayana Buddhism total 637 words in 2,883
volumes.  All of these should now be replaced by the recitation
of the single Mahayana phrase [the Nembutsu]. You should
understand that, when the Buddha was preaching according to the
capacity of his various listeners, he for a time taught the two
methods of concentrated meditation and unconcentrated
meditation. But later, when he revealed his own enlightenment,
he ceased to teach these two methods.  The only teaching that,
once revealed, shall never cease to be taught, is the single
doctrine of the Nembutsu."

Again Honen states: "The passage which says that the
practitioner of the Nembutsu must possess three kinds of mind
is found in the Kammuryoju Sutra.  In the commentary on that
sutra, we read: 'Someone asked: "If there are those who
differ in understanding and practice from the
followers of the Nembutsu, persons of heretical and mistaken
belief, how can one make certain that their perverse and
differing views will not cause trouble?"'  We also see that these
persons of evil views with their different understanding and
different practices are compared to a band of robbers who call
back the travelers who have already gone one or two steps along
their journey.  In my opinion, when these passages speak of
different understanding, different practices, varying doctrines
and varying beliefs, they are referring to the teachings of the
Sacred Way."

Finally, in a concluding passage, Honen says: "If one
wishes to escape quickly from the sufferings of life and death,
one should confront these two superior teachings and then proceed
to put aside the teachings of the Sacred Way and choose those of
the Pure Land.  And if one wishes to follow the teachings of the
Pure Land, one should confront the correct and incorrect
practices and then proceed to abandon all those that are
incorrect and devote one's entire attention to those that are
correct."

When we examine these passages, we see that Honen quotes
the erroneous explanations of T'an-luan, Tao-ch'o and Shan-tao
and establishes the categories he calls Sacred Way and Pure Land,
Difficult-to-Practice-Way and Easy-to-Practice-Way.  He then
takes all the 637 works in 2,883 volumes that comprise the
Mahayana sutras of the Buddha's lifetime, including those
bodhisattvas, and deities of the heavenly and human worlds, and
assigns them all to the Sacred Way, the Difficult-to-Practice-Way
and the incorrect practices categories, and urges men to
"discard, close, ignore and abandon" them.  With these four
injunctions, he leads all people astray.  And on top of that he
groups together all the sage monks of the three countries of
India, China and Japan as well as the students of Buddhism of the
ten directions, and calls them a "band of robbers," causing the
people to insult them!

In doing so, he turns his back on the passages in the
three Pure Land sutras, the sutras of his own sect, which
contain Amida's vow to save everyone "except those who commit the
five cardinal sins or slander the True Law."  At the same
time, he shows that he fails to understand the warning contained
in the second volume of the Lotus Sutra, the most important sutra
expounded in the five preaching periods of the Buddha's life,
which reads: "One who refuses to take faith in this sutra and
instead slanders it.... After he dies, he will fall into the hell
of incessant suffering."

And now we have come to this later age, when men are no
longer sages.  Each enters his own dark road, and all alike
forget the direct way.  How pitiful, to see them vainly lending
encouragement to these false beliefs!  And as a result, everyone
from the ruler of the nation down to the humblest peasant
believes that there are no true sutras outside the three Pure
Land sutras, and no Buddhas other than the Buddha Amida with his
two attendants.

Once there were men like Dengyo, Gishin, Jikaku and
Chisho who journeyed ten thousand leagues across the waves to
acquire the sacred teachings, or visited all the mountains and
rivers of Japan to acquire Buddhist statues which they held in
reverence.  In some cases they built holy temples on the peaks of
high mountains in which to preserve those scriptures and statues;
in other cases they constructed sacred halls in the bottoms of
deep valleys where such objects could be worshiped and honored.
As a result, the Buddhas Shakyamuni and Yakushi shone side by
side, casting their influence upon present and future ages, while
the Bodhisattvas Kokuzo and Jizo brought benefit  to the
living and the dead.  The rulers of the nation contributed
counties or villages so that the lamps might continue to burn
bright before the images, while the stewards of the great estates
offered their fields and gardens [to provide for the upkeep of
the temples].

But because of this book by Honen, this Senchaku Shu, the
Lord Buddha Shakyamuni is forgotten and all honor is paid to
Amida, the Buddha of the Western land.  The Lord Buddha's
transmission of the Law is ignored, and Yakushi, the Buddha of
the Eastern Region, is neglected.  All attention is paid to
the three works in four volumes of the Pure Land scriptures,
and all the other wonderful teachings that Shakyamuni proclaimed
throughout the five periods of his preaching life are cast aside.
If temples are not dedicated to Amida, then people no longer have
any desire to support them or pay honor to the Buddhas enshrined
there; if monks do not chant the Nembutsu then people quickly
forget all about giving those monks alms.  As a result, the halls
of the Buddhas fall into ruin, scarcely a wisp of smoke rises
above their mossy tiles; and the monks' quarters stand empty and
dilapidated, the dew deep on the grasses in their courtyards.
And in spite of such conditions, no one gives a thought to
protecting the Law or to restoring the temples.  Hence the sage
monks who once presided over the temples leave and do not return,
and the benevolent deities who guarded the Buddhist teachings
depart and no longer appear.  This has all come about because of
this Senchaku Shu of Honen.  How pitiful to think that, in the
space of a few decades, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of
people have been deluded by these devilish teachings and in so
many cases confused as to the true teachings of Buddhism.  If
people favor perverse doctrines and forget what is correct, can
the benevolent deities be anything but angry?  If people cast
aside doctrines that are all-encompassing and take up those that
are incomplete, can the world escape the plots of demons?  Rather
than offering up ten thousand prayers for remedy, it would be
better simply to outlaw this one evil doctrine that is the source
of all the trouble!

This time the guest was truly enraged and said: In the
ages since our original teacher, the Buddha Shakyamuni, preached
the three Pure Land sutras, the priest T'an-luan had originally
studied the four treatises but abandoned them and put all his
faith in the Pure Land teachings.  Similarly, the priest Tao-ch'o
ceased to spread the multifarious doctrines of the Nirvana
Sutra and devoted all his attention to the practices of the
Western Region.  The priest Shan-tao discarded the incorrect
practices and concentrated on the single practice of the Pure
Land, and the priest Eshin collected passages from various
sutras to form his work, stressing the importance of a single
practice, the Nembutsu.  Such was the manner in which these men
honored and respected the Buddha Amida, and uncountable numbers
of people as a result were able to gain rebirth in the Pure Land.

Of particular note was the venerable Honen, who as a
child entered the monastery on Mount Hiei.  By the time he was
seventeen, he had worked his way through all sixty volumes of
Tendai literature and had investigated all the eight
sects and mastered their essentials.  In addition, he had
read through the entire body of sutras and treatises seven times,
and exhausted all the works of exegesis and biography.  His
wisdom shone like the sun and moon, and his virtue exceeded that
of the earlier teachers.
 
In spite of all this, he was in doubt as to the proper
path to salvation and could not make out the true meaning of
nirvana.  Therefore he read and examined all the texts he could,
pondered deeply and considered every possibility, and in the end
put aside all the sutras and concentrated on the single practice
of the Nembutsu.  In addition, he received confirmation of his
decision when Shan-tao miraculously appeared to him in a dream,
and he proceeded to spread his doctrines among friends and
strangers in all four corners of the land.  Thereafter, he was
hailed as a reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Seishi, or was
revered as Shan-tao reborn.  In every quarter people of eminent
and lowly birth alike bowed their heads in respect, and men and
women from all over Japan sought him.

Since that time, the springs and autumns have succeeded
each other and the years have accumulated.  And yet you insist
upon putting aside the venerable teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha
contained in the Pure Land sutras and willfully speak evil of the
writings concerning the Buddha Amida.  Why do you try to blame
the sacred age of Honen for the disasters of recent years, going
out of your way to slander the former teachers of Pure Land
doctrine and to heap abuse on a sage like Honen?  You are, as
the saying goes, deliberately blowing back the fur and hunting
for flaws in the leather, deliberately piercing the skin in hopes
of drawing blood.  From ancient times to the present, the world
has never seen such a speaker of evil!  You had better learn a
little caution and restraint.  When you pile up such grave
offenses, how can you hope to escape punishment?  I am afraid
even to sit here in your company.  I must take up my staff and be
on my way!

The host, smiling, restrained his guest and said: Insects
that live on smartweed forget how bitter it tastes; those who
stay long in privies forget how foul the smell is.  Here you
listen to my good words and think them wicked, point to a
slanderer like Honen and call him a sage, mistrust a true teacher
and take him for an evil monk.  Your confusion is great indeed,
and your offense anything but light.  Listen to my explanation of
how this confusion arose and let us discuss the matter in detail.

The doctrines that Shakyamuni Buddha preached in the
course of his lifetime can be assigned to five distinct preaching
periods. The order in which they were preached can be
established, and they can be divided into provisional and true
teachings.  But T'an-luan, Tao-ch'o and Shan-tao embraced the
provisional teachings and forgot about the true ones, went by
what had been taught in the earlier period of the Buddha's life
and discarded what was taught later.  They were not the kind of
men who delve into the deep places of Buddhist doctrine.

Honen in particular, though he followed the practices
advocated by these earlier men, was ignorant as to the source
from whence they came.  How do we know this?  Because he lumped
together all the 637 Mahayana scriptures with the 2,883 volumes
of text, and along with them all the various Buddhas and
bodhisattvas and the deities of the heavenly and human worlds,
and urged people to "discard, close, ignore and abandon" them,
with these four injunctions corrupting the hearts of all people.
Thus he poured out perverted words of his own invention and took
absolutely no cognizance of the explanations put forth in the
Buddhist scriptures.  His is the worst kind of baseless talk, a
clear case of defamation.  There are no words to describe it, no
way to censure it that is not too mild.  And yet men all put
faith in this baseless talk of his, and without exception pay
honor to his Senchaku Shu.  As a consequence,  they revere the
three sutras of the Pure Land and cast all the other sutras
aside; they look up to one Buddha alone, Amida of the Land of
Bliss, and forget about the other Buddhas.  A man such as Honen
is in truth the archenemy of the other Buddhas and the
scriptures, and the foe of sage monks and ordinary men and women
alike.  And now his  heretical teachings have spread throughout
the eight regions of the country; they have penetrated every on
of the ten directions.

You became quite horrified when I blamed an earlier
period for the disasters that have occurred in recent years.
Perhaps I should cite a few examples from the past to show you
that you are mistaken in your feelings.

The second volume of the Maka Shikan quotes a passage
from the Shih Chi or Records of the Historian which says: "In
the closing years of the Chou dynasty, there were persons who let
their hair hang down, went about naked to the waist, and did not
observe the rites and regulations."  The Guketsu commentary on
the Maka Shikan, in the second volume, explains this passage by
quoting from the Tso Chuan as follows: "When King P'ing of
the Chou first moved his capital east to Lo-yang, he saw men by
the Yi River who let their hair hang down and performed
sacrifices in the fields.  Someone who had great understanding
said: 'In less than a hundred years the dynasty will fall, for
the rites are already neglected.'"  From this it is evident that
the portent appears first,  and later the disaster itself comes
about. 

The Maka Shikan passage goes on to say: "Juan Chi of
the Western Chin dynasty was a man of extraordinary talent, but
he let his hair grow like a mass of brambles and left his belt
undone.  Later, the sons of the aristocracy all imitated him,
until those who behaved in a churlish and insulting manner were
thought to be acting quite naturally, and those who were
restrained and proper in their behavior were ridiculed as mere
peasants.  This was a sign that the Su-ma family, the rulers of
the Chin dynasty, would meet with their downfall."

Similarly, the Nitto Junrei Ki or Record of a Pilgrimage
to China in Search of the Law by Jikaku Daishi records that in
the first year of the Hui-ch'ang era (841), Emperor Wu-tsung of
the T'ang dynasty commanded the priest Ching-shuang of
Chang-ching temple to transmit the Nembutsu teaching of the
Buddha Amida in the various temples.  Ching-shuang spent three
days in each temple, going about from one temple to another
without ever ceasing.

In the second year of the same era, soldiers from the
land of the Uighurs invaded the borders of the T'ang empire.
In the third year of the same era, the regional commander in the
area north of the Yellow River suddenly raised a revolt.  Later,
the kingdom of Tibet once refused to obey orders from China, and
the Uighurs repeatedly seized Chinese territory.  On the whole,
the conflicts and uprisings were like those that prevailed at the
time when the Ch'in dynasty and the military leader Hsiang Yu
were overthrown, and the towns and villages were devastated by
fire and other disasters.  What was even worse, Emperor Wu-tsung
carried out a vast campaign to wipe out Buddhist teachings and
destroyed a great many temples and monasteries.  He was never
able to put down the uprisings, and died in agony shortly after.
(This is the essence of Jikaku's original passage.)

In view of these events, we should consider the fact that
Honen was active during the reign of Emperor Gotoba, around the
Kennin era (1201-1203).  And, as everyone knows, in 1221 the
Retired Emperor Gotoba was thwarted in his attempt to assert the
authority of the throne, and he and two other retired emperors
were forces into exile.  Thus China provided an earlier
example of how the Pure Land teachings brought about the fall of
an emperor, and our own country offers similar proof.  You should
not be in doubt about the matter or consider it strange.  The
only thing to do now is to abandon evil ways and take up those
that are good, to cut off this affliction at the source, to cut
it off at the root!

The guest, looking somewhat mollified, said: Though I
have not yet probed deeply into the matter, I believe I
understand to some degree what you are saying.  Nevertheless,
both in Kyoto, the capital, and in Kamakura, the headquarters of
the shogun, there are numerous eminent Buddhist leaders and key
figures in the clergy.  And yet none of them has so far appealed
to the shogun concerning this affair or submitted a memorial to
the throne.  You, on the other hand, a person of humble position,
think nothing of spewing out offensive accusations.  Your
assertions are open to question and your reasoning lacks
authority.

The host said: Though I may be a person of little
ability, I have reverently given myself to the study of the
Mahayana.  A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thoroughbred
horse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that
twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet.  I was
born as the son of the one Buddha, Shakyamuni, and I serve the
king of the scriptures, the Lotus Sutra.  How could I observe the
decline of the Buddhist Law and not be filled with emotions of
pity and distress?

Moreover, the Nirvana Sutra states: "If even a good
priest sees someone slandering the Law and disregards him,
failing to reproach him, oust him or to punish him for his
offense, then that priest is betraying Buddhism.  But if he takes
the slanderer severely to task, drives him off or punishes him,
then he is my disciple and one who truly understands my
teachings."

Although I may not be a "good priest." I certainly do not
want to be accused of "betraying Buddhism."  Therefore, in order
to avoid such charges, I have cited a few general principles and
given a rough explanation of the matter.

Long ago in the Gennin era (1224), petitions to the
throne were submitted time and again by the two temples of
Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei and Kofuku-ji in Nara, and as a result
an Imperial command and a letter of instruction from the
shogunate were handed down, ordering that the wood blocks used in
printing Honen's Senchaku Shu be confiscated and brought to the
Great Lecture Hall of Enryaku-ji temple.  There they were burned
in order to repay the debt owed to the Buddhas of the past,
present and future.  In addition, orders were given that the
menials who are attached to the Gion Shrine would dig up and
destroy Honen's grave in Kyoto.  Then, Honen's disciples Ryukan,
Shoko, Jokaku, Sassho and others were condemned by the
government to exile in distant regions, and were never pardoned.

In view of these facts, how can you say that no one has
submitted a complaint to the authorities concerning these
matters?

The guest, continuing to speak in a mild manner, replied:
One could hardly say that Honen is the only one who disparages
sutras and speaks ill of other priests, [since you do the same
thing yourself].  However, it is true that he takes the 637
Mahayana scriptures with their 2,883 volumes of text, along with
all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas and the deities of the heavenly
and human worlds, and urges people to "discard, close, ignore,
and abandon" them.  There is no doubt that these four injunctions
are his very words; the meaning of the passage is quite clear.
But you keep harping on this one little "flaw in the jewel" and
severely slandering him for it.  I do not know whether he spoke
out of delusion or out of true enlightenment.  Between you and
Honen, I cannot tell which is wise and which is foolish, or
determine whose assertions are right and whose are wrong. 

However, you assert that all the recent disasters are to
be traced to the Senchaku Shu of Honen, speaking quite volubly on
that point and elaborating on the meaning of your assertion.  Now
surely the peace of the world and the stability of the nation are
sought by both ruler and subject and desired by all the
inhabitants of the country.  The nation achieves prosperity
through the Buddhist Law, and the validity of the Law is proven
by the people who embrace it.  If the nation is destroyed and the
people are wiped out, then who will continue to pay reverence to
the Buddha?  Who will continue to have faith in the Law?
Therefore one must first of all pray for the safety of the nation
and then work to establish the Buddhist Law.  Now if you know of
any means whereby disasters can be prevented and troubles brought
to an end, I would like to hear about it.

The host said: There is no doubt that I am the foolish
one -- I would never dare claim to be wise.  However, I would
just like to quote a few passages from the scriptures.
Concerning the means for insuring order in the nation, there are
numerous passages in both Buddhist and non-Buddhist text, and it
would be difficult to cite them all here.  Since taking up the
study of Buddhism, however, I have frequently given thought to
this matter, and it seems to me that prohibiting those who
slander the Law and paying respect to monks who follow the
Correct Way is the best way to assure stability within the nation
and peace in the world at large.

In the Nirvana Sutra we read: "The Buddha said, 'With the
exception of one type of person, you may offer alms to all kinds
of persons and everyone will praise you.'

"Chunda said, 'What do you mean when you speak of
"one type of person"?'

"The Buddha replied, 'I mean the type described in this
sutra as violators of the commandments.'

"Chunda spoke again saying, 'I am afraid I still do not
understand.  May I ask you to explain further?'

"The Buddha addressed Chunda, saying: 'By violators of
the commandments I mean the icchantika.  In the case of all other
types of persons, you may offer alms, everyone will praise you,
and you will achieve great rewards.'

"Chunda spoke once more, asking, 'What is the meaning of
the term icchantika?'

"The Buddha said, 'Chunda, suppose there should be
priests or nuns, lay men or women who speak careless and evil
words and slander the True Law, and that they should go on
committing these grave acts without ever showing any inclination
to reform or any sign of repentance in their hearts.  Persons of
this kind I would say are following the path of the icchantika.

"'Again there my be those who commit the four grave
offenses or are guilty of the five cardinal sins, and who,
though aware that they are guilty of serious faults, from the
beginning have no trace of fear or contrition in their hearts, or
if they do, give no outward sign of it.  When it comes to the
True Law, they show no inclination to establish it and help to
protect it over the ages, but rather speak of it with malice and
contempt, their words replete with error.  Persons of this kind
too I would say are following the path of the icchantika.  With
the exception of this one group of people called icchantika,
however, you may offer alms to all others and everyone will
praise you.'"

Elsewhere in the same sutra, the Buddha spoke in these
words: "When I recall the past, I remember that I was the king of
a great state in this continent of Jambudvipa.  My name was
Sen'yo, and I loved and venerated the Mahayana scriptures.  My
heart was pure and good and had no trace of evil, jealousy or
stinginess.  Men of devout faith, at that time I cherished the
Mahayana teachings in my heart.  Once, when I heard the Brahmans
slandering these teachings, I had them put to death on the spot.
Men of devout faith, as a result of that action, I never
thereafter fell into hell."

In another passage it says: "In the past, when the
Tathagata was the ruler of a nation and practiced the way of the
bodhisattva, he put to death a number of Brahmans."

Again it says: "There are three degrees of killings: the
lower, middle and upper degrees.  The lower degree constitutes
the killing of any humble creature, from an ant to any of the
various kinds of animals.  (Only the killing of a bodhisattva who
has deliberately chosen to be born in animal form is excluded.)
As a result of a killing of the lower degree, one will fall into
the realm of Hell, Hunger, or Animality, and will suffer all the
pains appropriate to killing of the lower degree.  Why should
this be?  Because even the animals and other humble creatures
possess the roots of goodness, insignificant though those roots
may be.  That is why a person who kills such a creature must
suffer full retribution for his offense.
 
"Killing any person from an ordinary mortal to an anagamin constitutes what is termed the middle degree.  As a
consequence of such an act of killing, one will fall into the
realm of Hell, Hunger, Animality, and will suffer all the pains
appropriate to a killing of the middle degree.  The upper degree
of killing refers to the killing of a parent, and arhat, a person
who has reached the state of pratyekabuddha or Realization, or a
bodhisattva who has completed his efforts and will never
retrogress.  For such a crime one will fall into the hell of
incessant suffering.  Men of devout faith, if someone were to
kill an icchantika, that killing would not fall into any of the
three categories just mentioned.  Men of devout faith, the
various Brahmans that I have said were put to death -- all of
them were in fact icchantika."

In the Ninno Sutra we read: "The Buddha announced to King
Prasenajit, 'Thus I entrust the protection of my teachings to the
ruler of the nation rather than to the monks and nuns.  Why do I
do so?  Because the monks and nuns do not possess the kind of
power and authority that the king has.'"

The Nirvana Sutra states: "Now I entrust the True Law,
which is unexcelled, to the rulers, the ministers, the high
officials, and the four kinds of believers.  If anyone should
vilify the True Law, then the high officials and four kinds of
believers should reprimand him and bring him to order."

It also states: "The Buddha said, 'Kasho, it is
because I was a defender of the True Law that I have now been
able to attain this diamond-like body.... Men of devout
faith, defenders of the True Law need not observe the five
precepts or practice the rules of proper behavior.  Rather
they should carry knives and swords, bow and arrows, prongs and
lances.'"

Again the Buddha said: "Even though there may be those
who observe the five precepts, they do not deserve to be called
practitioners of the Mahayana.  But even if one does not observe
the five precepts, if he defends the True Law, then he may be
called a practitioner of the Mahayana.  Defenders of the True Law
ought to arm themselves with knives and swords, weapons and
staves.  Even though they carry swords and staves, I would call
them men who observe the precepts."

The Buddha likewise said: "Men of devout faith, in past
ages in this very city of Kushinagara a Buddha appeared whose
name was Kangi Zoyaku Nyorai or the Buddha Joy Increasing.  After
this Buddha passed away, the True Law that he had taught remained
in the world for countless millions of years.  Finally, only
forty more years were left before the Law was due to come to an
end.

"At that time there was a monk named Kakutoku who
observed the precepts.  There were many monks at this time who
violated the precepts, and when they heard this monk preaching,
they all conceived evil designs in their hearts and arming
themselves with swords and staves, attacked this teacher of the
Law.

"At this time the ruler of the kingdom was named Utoku.
He received reports of what was happening and, in order to defend
the Law, he went at once to the place where the monk was
preaching the Law and fought with all his might against the evil
monks who did not observe the precepts.  As a result, the monk
who had been preaching the Law was able to escape grievous
injury.  But the king received so many wounds from the knives and
swords, prongs and lances, that there was not a spot on his body
the size of a mustard seed that remained unharmed.

"At this time the monk Kakutoku praised the king, saying
'Splendid, splendid! You, O King, are now a true defender of the
True Law.  In ages to come, this body of yours will surely become
a boundless vessel of the Law!'

"At that time, the king had already heard the teachings
of the Law, and he felt great joy in his heart.  Thereupon his
life came to an end, and he was reborn in the land of the Buddha
Ashuku, where he became the principal disciple of the Buddha.
Moreover, all the military leaders, citizens and associates to
the king who had fought beside him or had rejoiced in his effort
were filled with an unflagging determination to achieve
enlightenment, and when they died, all of them were reborn in the
land of the Buddha Ashuku.

"Later, the monk Kakutoku also died, and he too was
reborn in the land of the Buddha Ashuku, where he became second
among the disciples who received the direct teachings of the
Buddha.  Thus, if the True Law is about to come to an end, this
is the way one ought to support and defend it.

"Kasho, the king who lived at that time was I myself, and
the monk who preached the Law was the Buddha Kasho.  Kasho,
those who defend the True Law enjoy this kind of boundless
reward.  As a consequence, I have been able to obtain the
distinguishing characteristics that I possess today, to adorn
myself with them, and to put on the Dharma Body that can
never be destroyed."

Then the Buddha declared to the Bodhisattva Kasho: "For
this reason, lay believers who wish to defend the Law should arm
themselves with swords and staves and protect it in this manner.

"Men of devout faith, in the age of confusion and evil
after I have passed away, the nation will fall into neglect and
disorder, men will plunder and steal from one another, and the
common people will be reduced to starvation.  Because of hunger,
many men at that time will declare their determination to leave
their families and become monks.  Men such as these may be called
shavepates.  When this crowd of shavepates see anyone who is
attempting to protect the True Law, they will chase after him and
drive him away, or perhaps even kill him or do him injury.  That
is why I give permission for monks who observe the precepts to
associate with and keep company with laymen who bear swords and
staves.  For even though they carry swords and staves, I would
call them men who observe the precepts.  But although they may
carry swords and staves, they should never use them to take
life."

The Lotus Sutra says: "One who refuses to take faith in
this sutra and instead slanders it immediately destroys the seeds
for becoming a Buddha in this world.... After he dies, he will
fall into the hell of incessant suffering."

The meaning of these passages from the sutras is
perfectly clear.  What need is there for me to add any further
explanation?  If we accept the words of the Lotus Sutra, then we
must understand that slandering the Mahayana scriptures is more
serious than committing the five cardinal sins.  Therefore one
who does so will be confined in the great fortress of the hell of
incessant suffering and cannot hope for release for countless
aeons.  According to the Nirvana Sutra, even though you may give
alms to a person who has committed one of the five cardinal sins,
you must never give alms to a person who has slandered the Law.
He who kills so much as an ant will fall into one of the three
evil paths, but he who helps to eradicate slander of the Law will
ascend to the state from which there can be no retrogression.
Thus the passage tells us that the monk Kakutoku was reborn as
the Buddha Kasho, and that King Utoku was reborn as the Buddha
Shakyamuni.

The Lotus and the Nirvana sutras represent the very heart
of the doctrines that Shakyamuni preached during the five periods
of his teaching life.  Their warnings must be viewed with the
utmost gravity.  Who would fail to heed them?  And yet those
people who forget about the Correct Way and slander the Law put
more trust than ever in Honen's Senchaku Shu and grow blinder
than ever in their stupidity.

Thus some of them, remembering how their master looked in
life, fashion sculptures and paintings of him, while others,
putting faith in his perverse teachings, carve wood blocks with
which to print his offensive words.  These images and writings
they scatter about throughout the area within the seas,
carrying them beyond the cities and into the countryside until,
wherever honor is paid, it is to the practices of this school,
and wherever alms are given, it is to the priests of this sect.

As a result, we see people cutting off the fingers of the
images of Shakyamuni and refashioning them to form the gesture
appropriate to Amida, or renovating temples formerly dedicated to
Yakushi, the Buddha of the Eastern Region, and fitting them with
statues of Amida, the lord of the Western Land.  Or we find the
ceremony of copying the Lotus Sutra, which has been carried out
for over four hundred years on Mount Hiei, being suspended and
the copying of the three Pure Land sutras substituted in its
place, or the annual lectures on the doctrines of the Great
Teacher T'ien-t'ai being replaced by lectures on the teachings of
Shan-tao.  Indeed, the slanderous people and their associates are
too numerous to count!  Are they not destroyers of the Buddha?
Are they not destroyers of the Law?  Are they not destroyers of
the Priesthood?  And all their heretical teachings derive from
the Senchaku Shu!

Alas, how pitiful, that others should turn their backs on
the enlightened prohibitions of the Buddha!  How tragic, that
they should heed the gross and deluded words of this ignorant
monk!  If we hope to bring order and tranquillity to the world
without further delay, we must put an end to these slanders of
the Law that fill the country!

The guest said:  If we are to put an end to these people
who slander the Law and do away with those who violate the
prohibitions of the Buddha, then are we to condemn them to death
as described in the passages from the sutras you have just cited?
If we do that, then we ourselves will be guilty of inflicting
injury and death upon others, and will suffer the consequences,
will we not?

In the Daijuku Sutra, the Buddha says: "If a person
shaves his head and puts on clerical robes, then, whether that
person observes the precepts or violates them, both gods and men
would give him alms.  In doing so, they are giving alms and
support to me, for that person is my son.  But if men beat and
abuse that person, they are beating my son, and if they curse and
insult him, they are reviling me."

If we stop to consider, we must realize that, regardless
of whether one is good or bad, right or wrong, if he is a priest
or monk, then he deserves to have alms and nourishment extended
to him.  For how could one beat and insult the son and still not
cause grief and sorrow to the father?  The Brahmans who beat the
Buddha's disciple Maudgalyayana to death with their staves have
for a long time been sunk in the hell of incessant suffering.
Because Devadatta murdered the nun Utpalavarna, he has gone on
and on choking in the flames of the Avichi Hell.  Examples
from earlier ages make the matter perfectly clear, and later ages
fear this offense most of all.  You speak of punishing those who
slander the Law, but to do so would violate the Buddha's
prohibitions.  I can hardly believe that such a course would be
right.  How can you justify it?

The host said: You have clearly seen the passages from
the sutras that I have cited, and yet you can ask a question like
that!  Are they beyond the power of your mind to comprehend?  Or
do you fail to understand the reasoning behind them?  I certainly
have no intention of censuring the sons of the Buddha.  My only
hatred is for the act of slandering the Law.  According to the
teachings of the Buddha who lived prior to Shakyamuni, slanderous
priests would have incurred the death penalty.  But in the sutras
preached since the time of Shakyamuni, priests of this type have
merely been prevented from receiving alms.  Now if all the four
kinds of believers within the four seas and the ten thousand
lands would only cease giving alms to wicked priests and instead
all come over to the side of the good, then how could any more
troubles rise to plague us or disasters come to confront us?

With this the guest moved off his mat in a gesture of
respect, straightened the collar of his robe, and said: The
Buddhist teachings vary greatly and it is difficult to
investigate each doctrine in full.  I have had many doubts and
perplexities and have been unable to distinguish right from
wrong.

Nevertheless, this word by the venerable Honen, the
Senchaku Shu, does in fact exist.  And it lumps together all the
various Buddhas, sutras, bodhisattvas and deities and says that
one should "discard, close, ignore, and abandon" them.  The
meaning of the text is perfectly clear.  And as a result of this,
the sages have departed from the nation, the benevolent deities
have left their dwelling places, hunger and thirst fill the world
and disease and pestilence spread abroad.

Now, by citing passages from a wide variety of
scriptures, you have clearly demonstrated the rights and wrongs
of the matter.  Therefore I have completely forsaken my earlier
mistaken convictions, and my ears and eyes have been opened on
point after point.

There can be no doubt that all men, from the ruler down
to the common people, rejoice in and desire the stability of the
nation and the peace of the world.  If we can quickly put an end
to the alms that are given to these icchantika and insure that
continuing support is instead given to the host of true priests
and nuns, if we can still these "white waves" that trouble
the Ocean of the Buddha and cut down these "green groves" that
overgrow the Mountain of the Law, then the world may become as
peaceful as it was in the golden ages of Fu Hsi and Shen Nung,
and the nation may flourish as it did under the sage rulers Yao
and Shun.  After that, there will be time to dip into the
Waters of the Law and to decide which are shallow doctrines and
which are deep, and to pay honor to the pillars and beams that
support the House of the Buddha.

The host exclaimed with delight: As the proverb says, the
dove has changed into a hawk, the sparrow into a clam! How
gratifying!  You have transformed yourself through your
association with me, and like the bramble growing in the hemp
field, you have learned to stand up straight!  If you will truly
give consideration to the troubles I have been describing and put
entire faith in these words of mine, then the winds will blow
gently, the waves will be calm, and in no time at all we will
enjoy bountiful harvests.

But a person's heart may change with the times, and the
nature of a thing may alter with its surroundings.  Just as the
moon on the water will be tossed about by the waves, or the
soldiers in the vanguard will be cowed by the swords of the
enemy, so, although at this moment you may say you believe in my
words, I fear that later you will forget them completely.

Now if we wish first of all to bring security to the
nation and to pray for our present and future lives, then we must
hasten to examine and consider the situation and take measures as
soon as possible to remedy it.

Why do I say this?  Because, of the seven types of
disasters described in the passage from the Yakushi Sutra that I
cited earlier, five have already occurred.  Only two have yet to
appear, the "calamity of invasion from foreign lands" and the
"calamity of revolt within one's own domain."  And of the three
calamities mentioned in the passage from the Daijuku Sutra, two
have already made their appearance.  Only one remains, the
"disaster of warfare."

The different types of disaster and calamity enumerated
in the Konkomyo Sutra have arisen one after the other.  Only that
described as "bandits and marauders from other regions invading
and plundering the nation" has yet to materialize.  This is the
only trouble that has not yet come.  And of the seven calamities
listed in the Ninno Sutra, six are now upon us in full force.
Only one has not yet appeared, the calamity that occurs "when
enemies rise up on all four sides and invade the nation."

Moreover, as the Ninno Sutra says, "When a nation becomes
disordered, it is the spirits which first show signs of
rampantcy.  Because these spirits become rampant, all the people
of the nation become disordered."

Now if we examine the present situation carefully in the
light of this passage, we will see that the various spirits have
for some time been rampant, and many of the people have perished.
If the first predicted misfortune in the sutra has already
occurred, as is obvious, then how can we doubt that the later
disasters will follow?  If, in punishment for the evil doctrines
that are upheld, the troubles that have yet to appear should fall
upon us one after the other, then it will be too late to act,
will it not?

Emperors and kings have their foundation in the state and
bring peace and order to the age; ministers and commoners hold
possession of their fields and gardens and supply the needs of
the world.  But if bandits come from other regions to invade the
nation, or if revolt breaks out within the domain and people's
lands are seized and plundered, how can there be anything but
terror and confusion?  If the nation is destroyed and families
are wiped out, then where can one flee for safety?  If you care
anything about your personal security, you should first of all
pray for order and tranquillity throughout the four quarters of
the land, should you not?

It seems to me that, when people are in this world, they
all fear what their lot may be in the life to come.  So it is
that some of them put their faith in heretical teachings, or pay
honor to those who slander the Law.  It distresses me that they
should be so confused about right and wrong, and at the same time
I feel pity that, having embraced Buddhism, they should have
chosen the wrong kind.  With the power of faith that is in their
hearts, why must they vainly give credence to heretical
doctrines?  If they do not shake off these delusions that they
cling to but continue to harbor false ideas, then they will
quickly leave the world of the living and fall into hell of
incessant suffering.

Thus the Daijuku Sutra says: "Though the ruler of a state
may have for countless existences in the past practiced the
giving of alms, observed the precepts and abided by the
principles of wisdom, if he sees that my Law, the Dharma of the
Buddha, is in danger of perishing and stands idly by without
doing anything to protect it, then all the inestimable store of
good causes that he has accumulated through the practices just
mentioned will be entirely wiped out.... Before long, the ruler
will fall gravely ill, and after his life has come to an end, he
will be reborn in one of the major hells.... And the same fate
will befall the ruler's consort, his heir, the high ministers of
the state, the lords of cities, the village heads and generals,
the magistrates of districts, and the government officials."

The Ninno Sutra states: "If a man destroys the teachings
of the Buddha, he will have no filial sons, no harmony with his
close relatives, and no aid from the heavenly deities.  Disease
and evil spirits will come day after day to torment him,
disasters will descend on him incessantly, and misfortunes will
dog him wherever he goes.  And when he dies, he will fall into
one of the three realms of Hell, Hunger or Animality.  Even if he
should be reborn as a human being, he will be destined to become
a slave in the army.  Retribution will follow as an echo follows
a sound or a shadow follows a form.  A person writing at night
may put out the lamp, but the words he has written will still
remain.  It is the same with the destiny we create for ourselves
in the threefold world."

The second volume of the Lotus Sutra says: "One who
refuses to take faith in this sutra and instead slanders it....
After he dies, he will fall into the hell of incessant
suffering."  And in the Fukyo chapter in the seventh volume, it
says: "For a thousand aeons they dwelt in the hell of incessant
suffering and underwent great pain and torment."

In the Nirvana Sutra we read:  "If a man separates
himself from good friends, refuses to listen to the True Law and
instead embraces evil teachings, then as a result he will sink
down into the hell of incessant suffering, where he will
experience indescribable torment."

When we examine this wide variety of sutras, we find that
they all stress how grave a matter it is to slander the Law.  How
pitiful, that all men should go out of the gate of the True Law
and enter so deep into the prison of these perverse dogmas!  How
stupid, that they should fall one after another into the snares
of these evil doctrines, and remain for so long entangled in this
net of slanderous teachings!  They lose their way in these mist
and miasmas, and sink down amid the raging flames of hell.  How
they must grieve!  How they must suffer!

Therefore you must quickly reform the tenets that you
hold in your heart and embrace the one true vehicle, the single
good doctrine of the Lotus Sutra.  If you do so, then the
threefold world will all become the Buddha land, and how could a
Buddha land ever decline?  The regions in the ten directions will
all become treasure realms, and how could a treasure realm ever
suffer harm?  If you live in a country that knows no decline or
diminution, in a land that suffers no harm or disruption, then
your body will find peace and security and your mind will be calm
and untroubled.  You must believe my words, heed what I say!

The guest said: Since it concerns both this life and the
lives to come, who could fail to agree with you?  Now when I
examine the passages you have cited from the sutras and see
exactly what the Buddha has said, I realize that slandering is a
very grave offense indeed, that violating the Law is in truth a
terrible sin.  I have put all my faith in one Buddha alone,
Amida, and rejected all the other Buddhas.  I have honored the
three Pure Land sutras and set aside the other sutras.  But this
was not due to any distorted ideas of my own conception.  I was
simply obeying the words of the eminent men of the past.  And
the same is true of all the other persons in the ten directions
who follow the Pure Land teachings.

But now I realize that to do so means to exhaust oneself
in futile efforts in this life, and to fall into the hell of
incessant suffering in the life to come.  The texts you have
cited are perfectly clear on this point and their arguments are
detailed -- they leave no room for doubt.  With your kind
instruction to guide me, I have been able bit by bit to dispel
the ignorance from my mind.

Now I hope we may set about as quickly as possible taking
measures to deal with these slanders against the Law and to bring
peace to the world without delay, thus insuring that I may live
in safety in this life and enjoy good fortune in the life to
come.  But it is not enough that I alone should accept and have
faith in your words -- we must see to it that others as well are
warned of their errors!

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Kitchen View of Nobeoka How to Sell in Nobeoka Peare, Kawashima, Heisei, Kobata Schools in and Around Nobeoka Here's a nice park in Asahigaoka, Nobeoka. Nobeoka, Osegawa, Gokasegawa, Desaki Sites Reply to Lord Shijo Kingo The Flowers of Kami Igata Cho, Nobeoka - Yellow Flowers I wish I was nice all of the time. Some of Keiko Ahner's paintings while she was living Miramar, California Koi No Bori Festival, Kitaura by Mari Sasaki Tea Picking has begun with their special machines in Kitaura! The Tadpoles of Kawaminami Just Making Waves in Nobeoka Take Your View of Nagahama With You to Your Deathbed The View of the Great Beach of Nagahama, Nobeoka Nagahama Beach, Nobeoka Midorigaoka Trees Play Nagahama Misty For Me Kazuko's Joke Kyoko Okada's Story News by Kyoko Okada New North Miyazaki Karuta Cards ! (by Shigetoshi Ichimiya)
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firework Honda Cub Steve Devey Keiko Ahner Debbi Dillon English at Peare and Midorigaoka Elementary Mike Kasa Steve Verzal Chuck Slusher This what I remember about arriving in Nobeoka the first time Mao Shimano Nobeoka Igai River Nishida Ikeda Sometimes I ride my Honda Cub through the mountains without wearing a helmet Some people might call me a lucky man Attention You are now entering civilization Put on your gas mask please Frank Furuya The Fire Dept Says No fires anywhere in Japan But it's really on a case by case basis I hope we don't have a fire in the Kami Igata neighborhood When are the economic conditions of Nobeoka going to improve How would you like to have smoke roll into your bedroom every morning and evening This is a wonderful statue in Kadogawa Bill Gerhard This statue is looking out over the Kadogawa Bay Who is he Osegawa Nobeoka Have you seen Stonehenge in Kami Igata She stole a kiss This is my trusty old Honda Cub I enjoy every hour I spend in Kitaura Nobeoka I once saw a figure of an owl on a house in Newport Beach So I wanted to display this one here Who's the leader of the band that's made for you and me Old Friends Ahner Hoshino Nobeoka Link Happier Days on Nagahama Beach Ishii Nobeoka Shouko Sensei of Kawaminami 2007 First Place Prize in Miyazaki Japan 2006 Nanami Yamada Denki Nobeoka Band Nobeoka Entertainment Seina A Sidewalk Cafe in Nobeoka Conducting in Nobeoka Kathy Grimm These shoes are made for walking out of Nobeoka Mark Abeyta There is confusion about what to do about the HIMA in Nobeoka The tides will soon be changing in Nobeoka for the better Manami Kai Around Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Owls and Nobeoka Someone in Nobeoka Howard Ahner Makes it Clear We should face our flag Click on my picture to see some lure fishing in Nobeoka com He's a friendly guy in Nobeoka Howard Ahner ed away from the smoke and smells of Kami Igata Cho Nobeoka Ask the English teacher to check your English sentences for mistakes Makiko Iki Two Nobeokers have their day in Miyazaki September 17 2006 Let's have a party at my house and speak English In Nobeoka Typhoon Shanshan An elementary school in Kitaura Machi Keiko's Exhibition in Nobeoka September 15 to the end of the month 2006 Let's go on a trip to Los Angeles together I could show you around Champion's Field Nobeoka and Future Workers of Nobeoka Jim Hobbs Let's Fight Nobeoka September 15 2006 For Onlookers Art Exhibition at Hanakokoro Gallery Nobeoka September 15 30 2006 Call 0982 37 0806 11 59 AM September 14 2006 Howard Ahner Nobeoka Picturing Nobeoka Nobeoka September 13 2006 by Howard Ahner A house that we rejected but it's just around the corner of our new house in Tsurugaoka Japan is Expanding Let's drive together We could drive around Kyushu and have some nice conversations 34 5666 It's time for another Joke Just help other people get the good feelings they want The first key to writing is not to think Write with your heart Editing comes later Let's go fishing together Paula Abeyta We could talk and fish fish and talk The secret to a woman's heart is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time Chie Kusano Bob Langsdorf There used to be a ie theatre across from the old Azumaya where Joyfull now exists in Nobeoka Kobato Starts Again in September 2006 You're hair is silver shiruba Let's go on a long bicycle ride Maki Kaneko We could communicate in English Let's go on an ocean cruise together We could have a wonderful time Close Encounters How would you like to receive my weekly E mail on Nobeoka Topics or E mail me Ahner Keiko Link Heisei Nyuuenshiki 2008 Kawaminami Link Kawashima Youchien Howard Ahner Howard Ahner Gokase River Eigo Nobeoka Ahner Eikaiwa George Stapchuk came to Nobeoka once upon a time Spoken English While Watching the Sun Set on the Gokase River in Nobeoka Steve Haines Fun at Igata Community Center Nobeoka Long Time Students of Nobeoka English Peare Adults Fun While Teaching English in Nobeoka Children have fun learning English in Nobeoka Mark Ludes He liked to drink coke and listen to the taiko drummers play and watch the Gokase River in Nobeoka Does anyone remember that suspension bridge off of the road to Takachiho It's gone Ahner Eikaiwa Ahner Nobeoka Norman Tamura Kuroki Brothers First in Nobeoka Chika Ayana and Manami Yanagita LQHS Gym Mahou No Te Nobeoka Hair Stylists At Okado Kouminkan Nobeoka Top three tennis players at La Quinta High School in Westminster California Mizuki Naomi and Mie  Kami Igata Kirei Nobeoka Keiko Ahner's Paintings 2006 Other Homepages Ahner 1989 Santa Kitaura Keiko Ahner Mentioned Kawashima Youchien Halloween Kami Igata Frosted Kami Igata Icicled Nobeoka Snowmen Alan Minamide Nobeoka Class Notes Kawashima Youchien Gifts Mike Spriggs Megane No Good in Minami Nobeoka Let's Walk Together and Speak English Maki Hisanaga Nobeoka Winters Nobeoka Reflections Nobeoka Landscape Nobeoka New Year Santa Plays Jazz Keiko Ahner Painter Hososhima Drive Chibi Soup Nobeoka Dental Puri Meron Gone Nobeoka Lights Around Nobeoka Peare Nobeoka La Quinta High Westminster California Howard Ahner DOB February 20 1952 Remember Sone of 2004 Nobeoka Skies Shaven Ahner Up With Nobeoka Sitting Snowman We Once Belonged Monday April 14 2008 7 30 9 00 pm English Class Monique Blais Jim Suzuki Number One at La Quinta High School Westminster California 1970 The Gates to Heaven My Class Ring Akemi Shigeno These are the good times We need to take better care of our earth Howard Ahner couldn't eat or drink for over three months Where can I find English classes in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan What kind of English does Ken Eppelheimer Howard Ahner teach in Nobeoka City Japan Ursula Junior College in Nobeoka David Miner English Teacher Ursula Junior College Japan Let's Go on Tozan to Taisekiji Let's Chant Daimoku Eiko Dohi I'll see you on Sun Road Chiemi Kanai Nobeoka Some People I Know Happy New Year Party Kami Igata Videos Kami Igata Cho Can you eat Ayu Whitey Handled Ursula and Takoyaki Shop Midorigaoka Takoyaki and Chicken Pumpkin Nobeoka Fireworks A Walk in the Rain Nobeoka Quite Nightly Some Girls I Met Ganbaro Nobeoka Howard is Six Years Old To All My Friends Mahou No Te Hair Salon in Nobeoka Megane Good Nobeoka Minami The Okubo's of Kami Igata Cho Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan 2007 Ursula Junior College Mr Toda Once Prayed in This Direction Beneficial Medicine for All Ills Bestowal of the Mandala of the Mystic Law Russell Miura Bodhisattva Hachiman Clear Sake Gosho Consecrating an Image of Shakyamuni Buddha Made by Shijo Kingo Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man Conversation between a Sage and an enenlightened Man Curing Karmic Disease Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child Encouragement to a Sick Person Ahner Eikaiwa Link JAPANESE BASEBALL STATIONARY MIYANICHI SHINBUN Beehives in Nobeoka Nobeoka Greenery March 29 2008 Sazanpia March 29 2008 Plastic Flowers in Nobeoka Howard Ahner 301 N Bewley Street Santa Ana California 92703 From 1958 to 2008 We Met Howard Ahner's Art Work Nobeoka Talk Nagahama Clubhouse Old Things Nobeoka Chatter Ahner Eikaiwa Nobeoka Let's drive safely in Nobeoka OK Maho No Te in Mike Ospring Nobeoka Sadowara Restaurant Erika Signs of Nobeoka surugaoka Kitchen Video Ichiro Tamura Sunrise in Nobeoka Tsurugaoka Rendition Improved Toilet Stapchuks Igai River Fishes Ayu Akemashite Takoyaki Nishishina Home Town with Sasaki Gokase River Film Meru Sasaki Coffee Shop Madoka Nasu Nobeoka Nobeoka Sunrise Sunrise in Tsurugaoka Seihou High Yatogi Falls Filmed Encounters Happenings NIPPONHAM NIPPON HAM YOMIURI GIANTS BEAMS SHIMBUN MIYANICHI MIYAZAKI NORHOME ACCORDIA GOLF LADIES SHIMBUN MIYANICHI MIYAZAKI Eikaiwa Link Study Japanese Here in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan with Howard Ahner Poason Restaurant in Nobeoka Cool Wooden Horses in Nobeoka Miyazaki Kyushu Japan Rub the Tummy of Long Ear lobed Chubby Man in Nobeoka Miyazaki Kyushu Japan Pat Basham Ramen Gyoza Delivery Yamaha 50cc Bike in Nobeoka Miyazaki Kyushu Japan Maiko Tamura Two Monkeyed Manhole of Nobeoka City Japan Wanted Man in Nobeoka Japan Call the police if you see him Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and Execution Grounds in Nobeoka Miyazaki Kyushu Japan Charles Rhodes Kawashima Youchien Nobeoka March 16 2008 with Howard Ahner and Graduating Class English Teachers in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan Lloyd and Floyd Ahner Study material for Gokasegawa Ahner Eikaiwa March 17 2008 at 7 30 pm in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Akiko Shimano Heisei Graduation March 15 2008 Whitey Ahner makes a Friend at Nagahama Beach in Nobeoka Howard Ahner Whistles in Japan April 18 19 and 20 Festival in Nobeoka Karuta Game in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Roger Rummelfanger Japan Akiko Kai Study Material for Ahner English School in Nobeoka for March 12 2008 Study Material Ahner Eikaiwa Nobeoka for March 11 2008 Study Material For Adults March 10 2008 Mukabaki Nobeoka Kitakata Nobeoka Tohmi Kawashima Kitaura Urashiro Kadogawa Alien in Kami Igata Nobeoka Idekita Nobeoka Miyazaki Ken Byouin Brass Band Members of the old Santa Ana Community Center of the early 1980' s from Nobeoka Nobeoka Letter to the Brothers Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison Letter to Shomitsu bo Letter to Niike Letter to Myomitsu Shonin Letter to Nakaoki Nyudo Letter to Nichimyo Shonin Letter to the Priests of Seicho ji New Year's Gosho Dennis Rotondo No Safety in the Threefold World Setsuko Nagatomo On Attaining Buddha hood On Filial and Unfilial Conduct On Flowers and Seeds Tsutae Sakai Stan Petty On Itai Doshin Hiromitsu Shiba On Omens kyushu teraoka linkclub akm nobeoka Map of Nobeoka Marunouichi Nobeoka Matsuyama Cho Nobeoka memo lead lqhs MERIEGES NoBeOkA Minami Nobeoka miyazaki cci Photo Link Hinokage Clubhouse Only 900 000 Yen Ami Horinouchi Akio Ikeda Mikiko Aoyama Arisa Iwakiri This Old Turtle Tomomi Came Back to Watch the Heisei Undoukai She was a good student at Kobato Jidoukan Shibuya Okatomi Tennis Courts No Longer Exist Here's Proof that I once played wall tennis in Kami Igata Cho Nobeoka I once walked on these tennis courts in Rick Sappington Tohmi Nobeoka They belong to Asahi Kasei Wow I started working at Zaikouji Youchien in Hyuga in 1991 My High School Picture Senior Year 1970 La Quinta High Best Twins Japan Wildomar Buena Park Texas Pumpkin Party Saigo Nobeoka's Wedding 1990 Patrick Came to Nobeoka Matsuyama Cho Nobeoka English at the Community Center about 1993 Good Times with Izumi Downing Some Tall Ones with Jim and Bob Robert Suzuki California 1994 or so Jim Poundstone Top Right Man Craig Scoville La Quinta High Junior He Graduated Fort Gordon Military Police School 1973 Ocean Dome Miyazaki 1994 or So Kawaminami Library As Such 301 N Bewley Meeting A Kadogawa View Videos Made March 30 2008 Howard Ahner Jim Suzuki Took Me Golfing Again Nobeoka Armando Soria Hanami My Daughter's Second Day Alive This is the only public basketball court in the city of Nobeoka Close Friends The Link English and Japanese Readings on the Internet Learn to speak English or Japanese For Free Aeon Jusco Point Card Lounge in Nobeoka 2008 The Ahner Garden in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Keiko Ahner is preparing for another show in Miyazaki Jim Seifert February 2008 How can you keep the birds from dropping on the art outside of your building Goto Satou Santachi Party February 3 2008 in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Howard Ahner's Art drawn in the Nobeoka Miyazaki Kenritsu Hospital December 2007 Asami Mochizuki The Ruts of Nagahama Nobeoka Prevent Sea Turtles From Reaching the Shoreline Howard Ahner Goes Home From His Four Month Stay in the Hospital on January 25 2008 Friday Howard Ahner's Four Month Stay in the Hospital A Foreigner Stays Four Months in a Japanese Hospital Japanese Nurses Help a Foreigner Recover in the Hospital Howard Ahner loses the pounds in the hospital Brian Seleno Father In Law Hikari Jidoukan Videos late 2007 Click on the pictures to see the videos Nobeoka Off of Jusco Roof Heisei Youchien Sept 25 2007 Last Southern Sazanpia English Classes late 2007 City Link Contact Howard Ahner Super Smoke Hey Kerry Dunne Tenkin Ururun Hey George Newport Beach Bikes Other Pages Peaceful Days Typhoon Nabi and Rice Come on in Asano Kai Undoukai Torisen Party September 2005 Nobeoka Scenes Nishishina Walk Fishermen Merle Kutsunai Driving Mia's Drawing Mahou No Te of Nobeoka Hair Salon Megane No Good of Minami Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan Run by Yuki Sasaki Nao and Rina Chie and Shibuya New California Trucks Bewley Street in Santa Ana California Wendy's in Garden Grove California Our Friend's Baby Heisei 2005 Koji Tanaka Yuuna Mai Kouta Ayumi Glenn Vanwalraven KOBATO Mami and Yuiri First Peare Ayumi Kousuke Kota Ami Eigo Nobeoka Clicks Howard Ahner Says Yahoo Clo and Eleanor Mia Enters Pre School Asana Kai Fritz Ahner Always By Our Side Wildomar Ahner's Home Lanai Alumni 301 N Bewley St Chris Ed Jennifer and Clo Ahner California and Texas Akira Shigemura and Eleanor Ahner Clifford Blaine Ahner and Eleanor Akie Tamura Ahner Ed Eleanor Ed Ed and Chester Ahner Clifford Blaine Ahner's Cousin Granite City Ellen Watanabe Ed Eleanor Howard Illinois 1956 June Chartrand Granite City Illinois about 1955 Ed Ahner and Sailor Cap Tricycle Playing in Granite City Christopher Jennifer Clarice and Ed Ahner Bewley Street Kitchen Santa Ana California with Peter Yattaw Howard and Eleanor Ahner Thelma Tsurue Kutsunai Eleanor Akie Ahner's Sister Jenn Aaron Kayako Bobbi in Nobeoka Japan Past Events Others Links Howard Ahner's Art Work Eleanor Akie Ahner Keiko Ahner's Art Show in Santa Ana California Heather Saltzman as an Infant The Last Detail at 301 N Bewley St Santa Ana California 92703 Nobeoka Slice of Life Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment in Nobeoka Japan The Unity of Husband and Wife in Nobeoka Japan The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon in Nobeoka Japan The Problem to Be Pondered Nig ht and Day in Nobeoka Japan On Filial and unfilial Conduct in Nobeoka Japan On Attaining Buddahood Reaching Out to the California Shoreline Pete Oliver From Nobeoka Japan Howard Hoofs it in Nobeoka Nobeoka Champions Miruku Houikuen in Nobeoka Miyazaki English Nobeoka Smiles Ami Totoro Band Whitey Digs It Whitey and Totoro Beach are are a good match The Smoking Back roads of Nobeoka Miyazaki Enter Kami Igata At Your Own Risk in Nobeoka Miyazaki Display your art on the second floor of the Nobeoka Library Culture Plaza Whitey Walks in Kami Igata on the Igai River Some boys carved this It's located under the Igata Minamai Nobeoka Bypass bridge Garbage Trucks and the workers of Nobeoka The Old Kadogawa Big Bang Location What is the best looking house that you have seen in Miyazaki Miina and Yuina Miruku Houikuen Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Did Mr Shigetooshi Ichimiya wrote about the History of Nobeoka How beautiful is the Nobeoka coastline What's it like to drive on the Nobeoka Line Megane No Good Eyewear in Nobeoka Where can I see some more of Keiko Ahner's paintings Heisei Youchien Kawaminami Mia and Dad near Kijou Miyazaki Where is that girl that is holding a large fish hat does the vegetation look like in the Fuji area in December Fort Richardson MP's Military Policeman Howard Ahner 1973 Have you ever seen Fuji Mountain up close Where are my ears Heisei Undoukai in Kawaminami Cho Miyazaki Ken Japan What does Whitey enjoy most on the beach Nobeoka Nobeoka Nobeoka Nobeoka Kitaura Nobeoka Nice Students First Class with Howard Ahner Howard Ahner's Home Town Hikari Group Bamba Taiko Nobeoka Kitaura Jidoukan Bamba Odori 2006 Howard Ahner Paint Whitey Beach Ahner An Elephant Swims Jinbei English Links New Friends 1993 Heisei Youchien Yuki Sawada Undoukai Rehearsal There's Rika Sensei and Rie Sensei the early 90's Yuuya's Hands Strong Little Chairs Shoe Rack Megumi Sensei Shoko Sensei SLIME Nanako Tadpoles Ms Manaka Takase Megumi Sensei Miki 2006 Graduates Bowing Seina Stilts Saeri Shoko Sensei Working Rehearsal Terumasa Reina Flowers School is Out Last Hurah Howard and Megumi Sensei Nao and Rina Heisei Gathering Saeri and Momoka Shibuya All Heisei Heisei Crowd Nobeoka Dreaming English Classes Pamela Kutsunai Nagahama Surfers in Nobeoka April 8 2007 Ahner Eikaiwa More Nagahama Surfers Even More Nagahama Surfers Midorigaoka Nagahama Beaches and Surfing in Nobeoka Nobeoka English Teacher Ahner Keiko Paints Painted by Keiko Ahner Keiko's Blue English Speaking Man in Nobeoka Blue Yellow Keiko Ahner Keiko Ahner's Life White Stuff in Nobeoka Ed and Clo's Igata Sho Nobeoka Kadogawa Bridge Statue Saigo Takamori Nobeoka I've seen fire and I've seen rain Saigo Points Takamori How to get around Saigo Takamori Was Stoned Nobehood Our Parks in Nobeoka Hitotsugaoka Park How big was this snake Going into the pits At least we can make our shadow Oceanside Near Kitaura Miyazaki Nobeoka Military Police Man Nobeoka English Sazanpia Nobeoka Study English with Howard Ahner Nobeoka Reading Metal Detecting in Nobeoka Ayu in Nobeoka Californians in Nobeoka Popping Pods of Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Toshio Ishii Yellow Ball TAKANABE MUSEUM Sunrise in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Gokase River Talk Nobeoka Shadow Man Sunrise Over Nagahama Nobeoka Whitey Ahner Almost Died Best Train Station in Nobeoka Best Yatogi Falls in Kawaminami Miyazaki Ken Japan An English Teacher in Kadogawa Has a New Look Palm Tree Study English in Nobeoka Teaching English in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Japan Nobeoka Shoreline Sazanpia Nobeoka Nobeoka Kids English Pronunciation Hososhima Drive Mieko's Jokes The Best Junk Mimitsu Burritos Retirement Nobeoka Cigs Coin Laundry Mirror Guy Nobeoka Friendship English Classes English Classes 3D three dimension Loc Town Hyuga AI Denka Harada Toshiba Kadogawa AUTOWERKSTATT KUBO Kadogawa Baskin 31 Robbins Loc Town Hyuga Chirochiro Kadogawa Friends Nagahama Stroll We had some good times at Pian Piano The service was designed to be slow I think I was a gate guard at Fort Richardson Alaska in 1973 One of our squad offered me a cigar I went to Hiroshima for a few days George Stapchuk Jr showed me around We almost bought this house It's made of concrete with iron reinforced walls Actually there is a slim possibility that we may still buy this house The taxes are about $1600  Hiottoko Fire Men used bamboo poles to blow on their fires At Kobato Nursery School only the students that want to study English are allowed to join my class The girl with the long hair cut her hair a few weeks back She soon started to grow it back The next big typhoon might wipe Nobeoka off the map I am continuing to collect jokes from some of my students The whole experience of going on Tozan was as usual a joyous experience I tried to give them some ideas on Halloween but I fear that they will not stick Here are some notes that I took from my English classes Everyone chipped in to make this year's event really something I enjoyed every aspect of it Their memories of this event will probably remain with them for their entire lifetimes There are so many activities going on at Kobato Jidoukan on any given day of the week Well they are learning something at Kobato Jidoukan in Nobeoka City We were married July 15th 1990 We're still getting to know each other at Igata Community Center You can come to my house in Kami Igata on Wednesday nights if you want to study English I wonder how Miku is these days Yes I've seen the Muffin Man the Muffin Man the Muffin Man And I wonder how Yurina and Chika are these days Those were good times on top of Shiroyama mountain with the Asahi Kasei guys The Brass Band Nobeoka Westward and Southwestward children Learn English Watts Going On Keiko Ahner's Best Peanuts According to Howard Keiko Ahner's New Art September 2007 Rain Taste in Nobeoka September 4 2007 Shiggy's Painted by Keiko Ahner Not As Confused China Town Nobeoka Nagahama Jungle in Nobeoka Beach Nagahama Pounce On Nagahama Drawings Breaking News Videos Nagahama Beach Nobeoka Nobeoka Moons More and More Nagahama Beach in Nobeoka Clean Nagahama Beach Nobeoka American Influence on Nobeoka Frequent Memories Nobeoka English English Classes You better watch out There's a bad boy coming through Nobeoka Japan US Constitution Let's Be Careful With Fire He Can Pose Can't He 301 N Bewley St Santa Ana California August 13 2007 Some topics for discussions for Monday August 13 2007 Ahner Eikaiwa Nobeoka August 1st 2007 Study Material Nobeoka Eikaiwa Cannibal Man Eater Savage Joke by Nakashima Takao We should not be afraid of our government our government should be afraid of us Only when all who surround you are different will you truly belong If you are obvious your chances of being eaten increase Build it and they will come Post it and they will build it I say Daihatsu Provide Comfort For Others Free Bench Access to an Air Pump an Umbrella a Hat some Books Water Forward Nobeoka Nice Students First Class English Artist in Nobeoka Classic English in Nobeoka June Chartrand Drawn to Nobeoka Planning Resides in US Let's Not Waste Resources Skeptics Can Be Deadly Arlen Kutsunai To You Paranormal Life in Japan Word Definitions Change on an International Basis Old Yamashita Douri Nobeoka How to Survive ikinuku Natsubate Typhoon GoGo August 2 2007 Joanne Tamura Nobeoka The First Cut is the Deepest Remember the Sunrise Out of My Window Well Here's a Typhoon Out of My Window Baker Street Friends What Communication Should Be The people of Kami Igata grow up The Changing Faces of Howard Ahner in Nobeoka Meeting My Students Around Town Brother in law The Group on Atago Yama Home Again Home Again Greetings at Hitotsugaoka Festival If I Ever Need a Hair Cut Once Upon a Time in Igata Pink Petals Falling Into Our Teacups Gather Round Mates Gather Round Students Excel in Other Areas Ai of Igata Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes Always High in Spirits Baby is Pawed by a Monkey Grandfather and Granddaughter A Good Swimmer She kind of recognized me at McDonald's Keiko Art The Old Animal Collection House Nobeoka Nobeoka Nobeoka Howard the gardener and skateboarder a long time ago Richard and Greg Ed and Clo's Arbor Camping with Richard More Ahner's Ed's Cars and Garage Baby Mia Norman Tamura Using Spark Plugs as Weights on the Beach in Southern California Miyazaki Speech Contest Winners 2008 Howard Ahner at 19 years old Eikaiwa in Nobeoka Kawashima Youchien in Kawashima Town Nobeoka Has the Best Kids in Town The Ogura Restaurant in Idekita Town Nobeoka is the best restaurant in Nobeoka City Curing Karmic Disease Establishment of the Legitimate Teaching for the Protection of the Country General Stone Tiger Good Fortune in This Life Great Evil and Great Good Happiness In This World Hell is the Land of Tranquil Light Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life Link Hyuga City Kadogawa Back Bay Fishing in Kadogawa Kadogawa Beach Hidden Behind the Culture Center Let's Swim Out to Otojima Island from North Kadogawa Which island is it anyway I live in Nobeoka Industry can work with the people to clean up unwanted waste and make our water and air clean Welcome to shinny new Nobeoka Tim Tamura Howard Ahner's Clubhouse Hososhima Port Factory Rust in Hyuga Hososhima Area Discarded Boat in Kadogawa Kadogawa Inlet April Videos of Hyuga and Nobeoka from Howard Ahner Wednesday Class Material April 9 2008 I shall be very very puzzled Good Stuff aSaHi kAsEi NoBeOkA Marie Pasokon and Music in Nobeoka Nobeoka Park Cherry Blossoms are in Full Bloom April 3 2008 Gasoline Stand Nobeoka Seminar Plaza Nobeoka New Ose River Bridge in Nobeoka Flow Nobeoka Snack Especially Mansion in Nobeoka Green Snack or Green Bar in Nobeoka Cocoretta Nobeoka Nobeoka Fruit Stand Nobeoka Business Ho Manju in Nobeoka Ramen in Nobeoka Howard Ahner's English Classes Torinoza Nobeoka UFO Nobeoka    Big Mart Music Store in Nobeoka near Enomoto Apartments and Bronze Snack Nobeoka KuruKuru Nobeoka Enomoto House Apartments Mansions ETC in Nobeoka Jusco Front Door Nobeoka JA Nobeoka Japan Agriculture Nobeoka Maybe Bun in Nobeoka Biliopancreatic Diversion A PRICE Nobeoka Miyazaki Bank in Nobeoka Keiko Ahner March 2008 OM Solar House in Nobeoka Yamaguchi Mineral Water in Nobeoka Wai Wai evision TNN Nobeoka Asahi Kasei Nobeoka Takachiho Nishishina Nobeoka Mukabaki Miyazaki Ken Kadogawa Idekita Nobeoka Hyuga Hyuga Shi Hyuga City Nobeoka Companies Nobeoka Link Dear English Lessons in Nobeoka English Conversation Nobeoka News Angelfire Homepages Some Atsuro Hagihara Links All of My Videos ies Friends We're h ng fun as usual at Peare Nobeoka August Keiko Ahner Here's some work that Keiko Ahner did in Chuck Delrio Wildomar California in March and April 2006 Our Precious Daughter Daughter and Father Fractus News House Painting Ketchup Blue Sky Recent Stuff Keiko Ahner November 2005 Nobeoka Japan 1 Keiko Ahner November 2005 Nobeoka Japan Watashi No Kokoro Ni Hairemasu Ka Enzo Painted Forest Culture Plaza 2nd Floor Nobeoka Free Space Pizza Squares You're Leaning Papillion Freeze Bus Noriba Dance With Nobeoka Shiroari Painted Howard English English Classes in Nobeoka Friends Miracle on Nobeoka Street White House in Nobeoka Mimitsu Nobeoka Sunshine Paradise Miyazaki I heard that Nobeoka is ing south Show me a Mikoshi How is everyone at Bronze Nobeoka How are Japanese homes built How do some Japanese scare away crows I was in the Army at Fort Ord California in 1972 How about you We're all rusty at one time or another How should we practice Will you ever ship out of Nobeoka This way men Where have I heard that before Are you sure this is a love ho Russell Elementary Santa Ana Armando Soria This building was torn down in 2005 Are you kidding Somehow my memory is a little clouded Is this really a chapel Let's Smoke 'Em Someone is not civic minded Who could put up with this much longer Heavy smokers of Nobeoka He doesn't know it yet but he has magical hands Hot Baskets Meet my stinking neighbors These people are extraordinary Whitey likes sugarcane satoukibi Kawaminami Father Toyota Corona Miruku Houikuen Sisters Detecting Study English in Nobeoka Panoramic Study English in Nobeoka A Rainy Nobeoka Study English in Nobeoka Peare 9 30 AM Saturday 9 30 AM Yellow Ball Study English in Nobeoka Nobeoka Land Study English in Nobeoka On Seiun Bridge A Beautiful Part of Nobeoka Rest Stop Whitey Nears Pristine Wall in Nobeoka Serufu Sabisu Gion Town Nobeoka Nobeoker Gardener Hoodwinked in Nobeoka Whitey looks in Whitey is headed south Wanda Coe I got my first peek at a skyline I got my health checked When does Kadogawa Library open Where can I view some useless wood English Teachers in Nobeoka ETN Teachers in Nobeoka School Teachers Wanted Nobeoka Japan Classroom English Teachers in Nobeoka Japan Assistant Language Teachers ALT Nobeoka Megane No Good Tohmi Minami Nobeoka Nobeoka Kobato After School Dennis Freyer Darlene King Alan Vancampen was our RSG leader in the late 1970 at Santa Ana HQ Howard Ahner is in Japan Alicia la treated everyone with respect at La Quinta High Westminster Allen Graham played trumpet in the brass band at santa ana headquarters with Howard Ahner Blaine Calder was home run king for Little League Santa Ana California at Calva Dairy Candi Brennan went to all the basketball games La Quinta High Westminster Fred Soria Carolyn Clark was a member of my church on New hope Street in Santa Ana once upon a time Charmaine Courdy sat next to me in Robert Brandt' English class as a sophomores at La Quinta High Darlene King was my business machine sales instructor at Canon USA Santa Ana Dennis Freyer LAHR Basketball Team Guard and he was nice to everyone New English Classes in Nobeoka Remember Me You're Drafted Buddy Kitakata Howard Ahner 1972 Hikari Jidoukan Kitaura Nobeoka Kawashima 2006 Undoukai Nobeoka Sports Festival My Way to Oita Howard Ahner The fire departments of Nobeoka are standing and ready Tea Ceremony Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Mahou No Te Nobeoka Hair Design Keiko Ahner' Peanuts October 3 2006 Max Tozan September 29 and 30 2006 Departure Tozan September 29 and 30 2006 ARRIVAL at Taisekiji Tozan September 29 and 30 2006 Going to see the Dai Gohonzon Tozan September 29 and 30 2006 Going Home Tohmi Nobeoka Sunset September 28 2006 We lived in Kami Igata for over 12 years Keiko Ahner' Recent September 28 2006 Nobeoka More Envelopes Please This is our house now Often Smoked Out in Kami Igata Cho Kitaura Nobeoka Heisei Now Kawaminami Bunka Nobeoka The Nobeoka Ocean Cleans Tsurugaoka Sunset June 10 2007 Throw My Ticket in The Nobeoka Wind Cute Nobeoka Beach Nagahama With Shadows Kitakata Howard Ahner' Art Work Letter to Misawa Alan Minamide borrowed my helmet La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Gail Snailum O A Peters classmate of mine La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Fred Soria Good Friend of Mine La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Ed Kociela did the school newspaper La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Dixie Woodman O A Peters classmate with Mr Bawker La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Deborah Pekala Carole Jackson Brian Seleno JV Basketball La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Bob Langsdorf left fielder La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class New English Classes in Nobeoka Opened Study English With Howard Ahner in Nobeoka Keiko Ahner' Art Aya Kurogi March 28 2008 Flowers in Nobeoka March 28 2008 King Kong Oranges in Nobeoka Nobeoka Trees Still Farming After All These Years Howard Ahner March 28 2008 Nobeoka Signs Nice Place to Come Home To Trash Man's House Drive South Through Nobeoka Peek A Boo by Howard Ahner Howard Ahner Slimmed Up Maybe some of you will notice the changes in Nobeoka Last Sazanpia Class on March 22 2008 Individualists in Japan Subtle Japanese Performance Pure Japanese Band Disneyland Wana Goers Finale Mission Impossible Jazzy Finale Mission Impossible in Japan Study material for Ahner Eikaiwa in Nobeoka for March 22 2008 at Joyfull Restaurant in Hyuga Japan How will we remember all of their names Ed and Clarice Ahner Taught English at Midorigaoka Elementary in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan in 3 2008 We are all the same in Nobeoka Where is my edge in Nobeoka How could it not be the same for all of us in Nobeoka Japan There is always someone who will give a shit So we are what we see Maybe I should ignore everyone People are Dying Once in a while Meeting more and more people in Nobeoka is fine Stir up the mix in Nobeoka Japan There is a natural flow of ideas and thoughts in Nobeoka Japan We are concerned about content in Nobeoka Japan We want to appreciate our own work in Nobeoka Japan She is not a very good stalker in Nobeoka Japan Hara Odori haraodori  Nagahama Beach in Nobeoka on March 19 2008 a rainy day Tim Andrews Westminster California Fred Soria of Westminster California La Quinta Aztecs 1970 On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha On the Treasure Tower Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra Repaying Debts of Gratitude Reply to Jibu bo Reply to Lord Matsuno Reply to Takahashi Nyudo New English Classes in Midorigaoka Nobeoka Heisei Nyuuenshiki Speech April 11 2008 New Mukabaki English Classes Offered Tsuno Things by Howard Ahner Tsuno Things by Howard Ahner II Looking For an America in Nobeoka Japan by Howard Ahner Igata Cho in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan by Howard Ahner English Japanese and English by Howard Ahner English Teacher in Nobeoka Katsu Kare and Mini Udon in Hyuga Where the First Emperor of Japan Departed to Kyoto by Howard Tsuno is Substantial by Howard Ahner Nobeoka English Teacher First Emperor Departed From Here to Kyoto a Long Time Ago they say anyway Bambi Nobeoka Nobeoka Police Box Being Eliminated by Howard Ahner  Daiei Nobeoka Being Eliminated by Howard Ahner  Bronze Nobeoka Snack March 2 2008 by Howard Ahner  Nishishina Tennis Courts Missed Action by Howard Ahner Nobeoka Golden Games by Howard Ahner Funniest Home Videos Higashi High School in Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Kangou Gakkou of Nobeoka School for Nurses Torn Down by Howard Ahner Nobeoka Jail by Howard Ahner Onuki Town Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Police Station in Nobeoka Torn Down by Howrad Ahner Yukan Daily of Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Nishishina Tennis in Nobeoka March 2 2008 by Howard Ahner Nobeoka Fishing by Howard Ahner Nobeoka Sunrise Japan by Howard Ahner English Teacher in Nobeoka Mejiro White Eyed Birds in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Miyazaki Filmed by Howard Ahner Feb 20 2008 Nagahama Clubhouse Nobeoka Burned Down February 2008 by Howard Ahner Route Ten Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan by Howard Ahner Mejiro in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka by Howard Ahner The Faces of Howard Ahner in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan February 2008 Totoro Kitaura Nobeoka Bus Stop by Howard Ahner Teaching English in Japan Using Pictures by Howard Ahner Free Hikari Jidoukan February 2008 by Howard Ahner A Tunnel in Kitaura Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Kitaura Nobeoka Smoke by Howard Ahner A New Road in Kitaura Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Whitey Ahner Likes to Hug by Howard Ahner Teaching in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Using Pictures and Video by Howard Ahner Hikari Kitaura Drive Nobeoka by Howard Ahner It's the Dry season in Kitaura Nobeoka during February by Howard Ahner Fun Things To Do Nobeoka by Howard Ahner How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood Through the Lotus Sutra Jozo and Jogen King Rinda Lessening the Karmic Retribution Letter from Echi Letter from Sado Letter of Petition from Yorimoto Some of my favorites by Howard Ahner Some of my favorites 2 by Howard Ahner Some of my favorites 3 by Howard Ahner Call me for information on my new English class in Nobeoka Monday 5 00 pm My Home For Children 6 to 11 years 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Monday 7 30 pm My Home For Adults 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Tuesday 9 30 am Kawaminami Cho Heisei Youchien Wednesday 4 30 pm My Home For Children 3 7 years 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Wednesday 5 30 pm My Home For Children 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Wednesday 8 30 pm My Home For Adults 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Thursday 10 00 am Zaikouji Youchien Hyuga Thursday 3 30 pm Hikari Jidoukan Kitaura Thursday 6 00 pm Sazanpia For Children 10 15 years Minami Nobeoka Thursday 7 30 pm Aya Matsuo My Home For Children 12 to 15 years 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Thursday 8 00 pm My Home For High School 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Friday 4 00 pm Kobato Jidoukan Nobeoka Friday 5 00 pm My Home For Jr High 12 16 years 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Friday 6 30 pm My Home For Children 6 12 years 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Friday 7 30 pm My Home For Junior High Level 1 26 11 Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Saturday 9 30 pm Sazanpia Minami Nobeoka For Children 5 to 12 years old Saturday 10 40 am Sazanpia Minami Nobeoka For Children 9 15 years old Saturday 1 30 pm Joyfuoll Restaurant Hyuga For Adults Advanced Saturday 2 30 pm Joyfull Restaurant Hyuga For Adults Beginners Fuso Bus in Totoro Nobeoka Junk Yard Japan Asahigaoka Park and Ocean View Japanese Submarine Hideout in Taina Cho Nobeoka  Class Happier Days on Nagahama Beach Nobeoka What did Howard Ahner look like when he arrived in Nobeoka in 1989 Howard Ahner DOB February 20 1952 Remember Sone of 2004 Nobeoka Skies Shaven Ahner Up With Nobeoka Sitting Snowman We Once Belonged Study English Nobeoka How MUCH English they know in Nobeoka High School Age English Class in Nobeoka Nobeoka Classroom Children of Matsuyama Cho The Early Days in Nobeoka In the California Desert Colorful T shirts in Nobeoka Wakahage of Nobeoka Study Japanese Here in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan with Howard Ahner Nobeoka Nice Students First Class English Artist in Nobeoka Classic English in Nobeoka June Chartrand Crane in Totoro or Taina Cho Nobeoka VIDEO Taina Lemonade Stand is Closed Buddhism in Kadogawa Construction Work at the Ahner House in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka March 31 2008 Here are some videos I made on March 30 2008 Howard Ahner Nobeoka Flowers March 28 2008 Our Address My Bike Whitey Ahner at the River in Kitaura Nobeoka Kachina Doll in Nobeoka They're Selling The Lot Next to Our House No More Parking Sorry James Dean Nobeoka The Medaka I Caught in the Igai River in Kami Igata are Still Living March 26 2008 Get Off at Nobeoka Station Whitey Ahner is Afraid of the Water Keep Nobeoka Clean Keiko Ahner Contest Winner Godzilla Emerges in Nobeoka Keiko Ahner Bought a Statue Nobeoka Pumpkin Seeds Idekita Bike Ride Around Nobeoka Idekita Bike Ride Around Nobeoka 2 2008 March Come Speak English With Us Fort Ord Rifle Range Norman Tamura Took Us Hunting Yama Roku Sun Road Nobeoka Ichimiya Climbing Wall Kami Igata Does it ever snow in Nobeoka Where can one play basketball in Nobeoka Is Kimio Yanagita a good artist What did Howard Ahner look like when he was nineteen years old Kurashiki Okayama Links Prospering Owl Makers in Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan My Favorite Chicken in Midorigaoka Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan More Wood Detecting in Nobeoka Japan by Howard Ahner Roots of Good Fortune New English classes in Kawashima Cho Nobeoka Mahou No Te Kimio Yanagita Kami Igata Reina Santa Ana California La Quinta High School Westminster California Specialist 4 Howard Ahner Keiko Ahner wins again in Nobeoka July 2006 On Itai Doshin Olive House Nobeoka 2006 Now this is the way to deal with Burnable Trash Moeru Gomi I used to work at Mirai Juku Nobeoka Megane no Good Nobeoka 2006 Upcoming Events at Bunka Center Nobeoka From July 1 thru July 30 2006 A portrait of Howard Ahner by Zaikouji Youchien students of Hyuga Miyazaki Japan July 6 2006 Soccer Players on the Nagahama Beach Nobeoka On Flowers and Seeds On the Treasure Tower On Filial and Unfilial Conduct Postscript to the Rissho Ankoku Ron Reply to a Believer Reply to Jibu bo Reply to Ko Nyudo Reply to Kyo o Reply to Lady Onichi nyo Reply to Lord Matsuno Alumni Nobeoka New English Classes in Nobeoka LIBRE KITCHEN Hosei No Mise Poketto Nobeoka Mr Salesman in Nobeoka Talks About Sales Truth English Lesson Click on Pictures to See Videos June 8 2007 Aya Kikuchi Nobeoka Marks in Time Reply to Lord Shijo Kingo Okubo Flowers Nobeoka April 20 2006 Flower Howard Nobeoka A Happy Angel Always With You by Keiko Ahner Miyamar California 2006  Koi No Bori Festival Kitaura by Mari Sasaki Tea Picking has begun with their special machines in Kitaura Tadpole Picking in Kawaminami Cho Miyazaki Ken April 18 2006 Waves by Nobeoka Nagahama View Take Your Pick Midorigaoka Nobeoka Out of Nagahama Nobeoka Nagahama Beach Nobeoka on a cloudy day April 15 2006 Midorigaoka Trees Nobeoka Nagahama Misty Nobeoka A woman went to a doctor to see about her heart He asked her How old are you She replied We Mr Kanemoto of the Hanshin Tigers made a new record He played in 904 consecutive games It's a Kenji Joujima is the 1st Japanese catcher to play for the major leagues He plays for the Mariners New North Miyazaki Karuta Cards by Shigetoshi Ichimiya How do you know what Town you are in in Nobeoka Igata Sunset April 2006 Nobeoka Man JAGA UMK Nobeoka JR MIYAZAKI 0985 27 8101 BONBELTA YAMAKATAYA MIYAZAKI CATV in Nobeoka THE MIYANICHI BONBELTA TACHIBANA MINAMI P UMEDA GAKUEN DMAT Drug Store in Nobeoka GAKUBUN USAMI GAS GASOLINE NOBEOKA SHIOHAMA Okamura Hospital MIYAZAKI TOYOPET MARKXZIO MIYANICHI SHINBUN SHIMBUN MIYANICHI MIYAZAKI TOYOPET Suzuki Nobeoka WE LOVE EN CHEZ ONJI KITCHEN A PRICE Nobeoka THE MIYANICHI CO JUSco KENYUKAN CO For Nobeoka GAKU For Nobeokers HUMAN MIND COMPANY MIYAZAKI is for Tsunetomi Junior High in Nobeoka New English Classes in Idekita Nobeoka New Nagahama Cho Nobeoka English classes The Last Show September 20th 2007 Mimitsu Shoreline Kobato Champs September 2007 Hikari September 2007 Picture Links Kid's English Class Zaikouji Champs September 13 2007 Shadows Nobeokan Whitey Wants It's OK to use the phone in police boxes Come and Study English With US Bush Tradition Mimitsu Miyazaki Rest Stop Heisei Kawaminami Kawashima Keiko Ahner's Latest September 2007 Hyuga Miyazaki Beach Surfing Nobeoka Japanese English Readings Click on the Pictures to Watch and Listen Higher Nobeoka The Champions of Zaikouji Southwestern Nobeoka Twilight Tosan 2007 Ahner Eikaiwa Ahner Eikaiwa News Japanese Trees Nobeoka Miyazaki Park Link to Nobeoka English Old Ahner Eikaiwa Tatsuta Nobeoka Did you know that Nobeoka High School went to Koshien about 40 years ago Chin Chiku Rin Nobeoka Nobeoka Electricity Mama Mode Nobeoka Nobeoka Walk Over Bridge Koike Clinic Nobeoka This Nobeoka House Was Too Expensive Nobeoka Rust Mada Nobeoka Around a house in Totoro Nobeoka Kitaura Kicks Hit The Nail On The Head in Nobeoka Heisei Slime Yasuko's Houses in Mimitsu Cho Miyazaki Japan Gasoline Stand in Kadogawa on the Block Hitotsugaoka Clinic It can't be helped doushou mo nai Trusty Old Nobeoka Sign Still Lowered in Hososhima Let's Link to Nobeoka City Here are some Kawaminami Links Links to Education in Nobeoka Nobeoka City Games Nobeoka City Windows Mimitsu Send Off by Howard Ahner English Classes with Howard Ahner Maps Shanghai Keiko Ahner Reply to Lord Shijo Kingo Hitotsugaoka Band Nobeokers 2005 Totoro Band Ichimiya's Fireworks Nobeoka Gun Hunting Prohibited BTTF The Shoes Papillion Books on Whales BigBang No More Out of Step Nobeoka Music House Hyuga Festival Keiko Ahner's Curls Igata Kouminkan Nobeoka English Kami Igata Neighborhood Youth Azumaya Bokusui Nobetaka Eikaiwa Nobeoka Glenn Vanwalraven Trumpeter La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Gokase English Teacher Harvey Mata played little league with me on the Giants team La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Heisei Hideji Beer Joan Weigel Cheerful La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Jisatsu Nobeoka Jim Selby Little League and Varsity Basketball La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Jim Hobbs La Quinta Westminster 1970 Jessie Sanchez typing class La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Igada Hyuga Sun Park Gotoh Goto Kikuchi New English Teacher in Nobeoka New Nobeoka Eikaiwa Class in Nobeoka Bench Park Japan NOBEOKA On The Rocks in Miyazaki Prefecture Japan by Howard Ahner Keiko Nobeoka O Nobeoka Route Ten Enduro Where is Kido Animal Clinic located Does Nobeoka City have a logo Can you make out this new face in Kami Igata Machi Nobeoka I can't quite make out what Colormony means Fireworks are on display every day in Kami Igata Machi Nobeoka Mia painted a spaceman The old Chalon Restaurant changed into a Rotary Sushi Restaurant in Nobeoka They're still happy in the valley When I get older will you still need me Will you still feed me when I'm 64 This place in Kadogawa is up for grabs for sale It's just a little over $800 000 This gasoline stand in Kitagawa is on the block for just over seven teen thousand dollars 7 11 kaDOgaWa Keiko Ahner Le ng Miyazaki Museum Nobeoka Weather Nobeoka Future Nobeoka Fields of Dreams Sourthern Nobeoka Condo Nobeoka Nobeoka Reborn Hyuga Neighborhoods North to South Nobeoka Nobeoka Bats Huntington Beach Around Tsurugaoka Weight Training Whitey Dances Helen Norman Thelma Eleanor Ellen and Rosiland Tamura Carolyn Tamura Did you know that we got Whitey Ahner from the dog pound or animal shelter Houkenjou Did you know that the Ahner's live in a home that overlooks the ocean Some tough guy was arrested after being told to turn off his five cell phones in an airline Did you know that Garappa Bath House in Urban Town Ayaka Ginyama Nobeoka has closed for good Do you speak Bogo Bokokugo Kokugo or Nihongo Do you want to talk to all people It's never too late to offer a friendly gesture The Edge Keiko Ahner's New Peanuts Don't Ever Make Waves Gaikokujin Bide Your Time Gaikokujin Don't Wear Loud Colors Gaikokujin Figueroa Street Santa Ana 92703 21 Hour Visit to Nobeoka Try to Blend In Gaikokujin Weekly News Oyakokai Weekly News Painful Question Weekly News Pu Aru Cha Try To Be Stylish Anyway Gaikokujintachi How do you wake someone up Slap a newspaper on their head or wet towel Look up guys I found a door Nobeoka Tennis Nishishina Royal Hitotsugaoka Totoro Tsurugaoka Atagoyama English Classes Sazanpia Donkiho te Nobeoka Pizza Minami Nobeoka Near Sazanpia Flower Arrangement Japan Minami Nobeoka Map Let's study English at Moss Burger Study English at Jusco Study English in Your Home Let's Study English in My Home Let's Study English at Sazanpia Let's Study English at Joyfull Let's Study English Heresutopia Let's Study English in a Coffee Shop Near Your Home Let's Study English in Tsurugaoka Let's Study English While We Drive Let's Study English While We Travel Let's Study English While Walking Let's Study English in Your Office Let's Study English at Your School Let's Study English With Your Co workers Let's Study English at Your Kindergarten Youchien Let's Study English at a Snack or Bar or Pub Let's Study English at Your Kouminkan Community Center Let's Study English with Your Family Let's Study English on the Tennis Court Let's Study English ie Scripts I Am Sam Roman Holiday Let's Study English Novels English Study Information Nobeoka New English Class Information Watch a video showing how freedom is won Takanabe Art Museum Video Watch the video of Whitey and Howard heading out to the point Watch Whitey zoom through the sand on Nagahama Beach Nobeoka Watch Howard's ball get lost in the abyss of the Nobeoka Coastline Watch how the Gokase River rushes into the Nagahama Coast of Nobeoka Watch a sideways video RCA Sign in Minami Nobeoka Softball Anyone Metal Detecting in Nobeoka IV This is This Hirobaru Advertise Here Hirobaru Laundromat Nobeoka Back roads Nobeoka Metal Detecting More Metal Detecting in Nobeoka Longed Roped Whitey Ahner Wet Boots Metal Detecting Again in Nobeoka Ose River Nobeoka An Over Nighter in Nobeoka Nobeoka Port Nobeoka Way Nobeoka Mozu Mozu Nobeoka Surf Nagahama Nobeoka Takanabe Art Museum Takanabe Miyazaki Japan Persistence Nebaritsuyoi Percolators Genkinyanahito Rocking Nobeoka We went to Takeda last Saturday We walked up to a castle and had some amazake Japan Neon Animation Pachinko Signs Mr Donut Mr Minami Nobeoka Walk over Bridge Panorama Nobeoka Flowers Cig Ad Nobeoka Execution Grounds Nagahama Metal Detecting Walking Hirabaru Nobeoka Luck has nothing to do with it La Quinta Rings Tired Nobeoka Otemoyan Asahi Kasei English Conversation Teacher Sea Turtle English Class Information Nobeoka Hyuga Kawaminami Daiodani Hyuga Cherry Blossoms A DAY WITH FRIENDS Daiodani Hyuga Cherry Blossoms  We lived here for twelve years Yayoi Chan Ayaka Kino Do you remember the sandcastle we built at Sumie Beach Keiko Ahner's Peanut Factory in Nobeoka Is this a Yamakagashi September 4 2006 News in Japan Tsurugaoka House How much are the property taxes Aeon Miyazaki has some very nice facilities for the handicapped Nobeoka Humor Nobeoka Leaf Swat Nobeoka Black on Purple Atama Butsukeru Yo in Nobeoka Nobeoka Step Down Babies in Nobeoka Hate Nasty Rings To It At Least I'm Interested Play A Myth I Did One For Her And It Was Free She Put Me Down On Her List I'll Get There Good Ear Bad Memory by Howard Ahner Only You In Room by Howard Ahner Akande Dame Tenkasui Nobeoka Tap Water Without the Chlorine Nobeoka Stars Nobeoka Chain English Classes He speaks English at Taku Taku Ramen in Nobeoka Machi Miyazaki Japan He spoke English in Midorigaoka Nobeoka He wants to teach English at Midorigaoka Kouminkan in Nobeoka Castle Town They speak English at Miruku Houikuen in Idekita Village Nobeoka Shi Miyazaki Prefecture Kyushu They even spoke English to me at a Uniqlo Store in Idekita Nobeoka I spoke a little English to a waitress at Kandagawa Restaurant in Midorigaoka Nobeoka Most of the staff at UFO Sawabe in downtown Nobeoka are eager to speak English An owner of a shop on Yamashita Street Nobeoka couldn't stop speaking English to me While shopping at New City Jusco Nobeoka through the years many people have spoken English to me Some have said that even Bokusui spoke a little English in Nobeoka I often speak English to the waitress and some of the customers at Koyou Restaurant in Nobeoka My daughter spoke English on top of Mukabaki Mountain just a way from Nobeoka city I met some people in front of Ho A&A Nobeoka and they could speak English Of course many times I have spoken English at Bunka Center Nobeoka Many times And I have spoken English while using my keitai cellular phone so so many times English Japan This was my first apartment building in 1989 April ugh when I came to Japan These pictures were taken from the top of the Jusco Nobeoka building As you can see Taku Taku Ramen is closed AGAIN today It's always closed on Monday I would like to buy this building in Midorigaoka Nobeoka Someday soon I will teach English at this Midorigaoka Community Center Kouminkan These pictures were taken while driving through Nobeoka City Study English Kadogawa Here are some more pictures while driving through Nobeoka City And finally here are some pictures towards the Southern part of Nobeoka They speak English on top of the Jusco Department store in Nobeoka Miruku Houikuen Probably the Lo or UniqLo stands for 'Low' prices The Game Center is closed on Saturday early mornings Ramen Ginza They Study English in Nobeoka Probably Shirius stands for Serious 'pachinko players' My Life and daughter ate there for lunch There's a new ramen shop in Nobeoka You can get ie dvds music cds and comic books here at GEO Nobeoka The old Chalon Restaurant is now a rotary sushi shop Some people get sensitive when you talk about this hospital in Midorigaoka Nobeoka I am wondering how long 'Right On' can hold out Stay in business The old Bunka Center in Nobeoka looks kind of plain High School baseball I think they call this Gion Machi Nobeoka We often meet in front of A&A Ho Nobeoka to go drinking Koyou Restaurant is my favorite restaurant I love their Katsukare They Study English in Hyuga City This is Sun Road Nobeoka on a rainy evening A music festival at Ursula Junior College You can rent a stage at Kazu Music House They say that Bokusui is famous for his poetry Jusco Nobeoka the last department store in Nobeoka Yamashita Douri or Arcade used to be the place to go They Study English on Yamashita Douri Nobeoka This is just before UFO opened Saigo Takamori Museum is easy to miss as you drive North out of Nobeoka We got married at Gokase Ho but now it's a rest home for the elderly Nobeoka High School Gakkou 7 11 kaDOgaWa Ahner Clo They speak English at a hospital in Idekita Cho Nobeoka Ahner Ed Autumn Oak Irvine Howard Ahner Bunka Culture Kadogawa English Classes in Nobeoka Typhoon Flooding in Nobeoka Typhoon Overflow Ose River Nobeoka Nobeoka Signs Damaged in Typhoon Nobeoka Flood Gates Kami Igata Rains Nobeoka Rooftops Kamiigata Stream Typhooned Gokase River Typhoons Nobeoka Port During Typhoon Nobeoka Surfing Nobeoka Blackboards Nobeoka Drawings We sold our Kami Igata house Kamiigata House Sold Kamiigata Sold Nobeoka Open House Nobeoka For Sale Nobeoka Sold Nobeoka Fishing Nobeoka Bypass Kami Igata Homes Sell Fast Our Nobeoka Nobeoka Rivers More Nobeoka Nobeoka Tree line Nobeoka Bridges Nobeoka Neighbors Nobeoka Skyline Nobeoka Balcony Nobeoka Clouds Nobeoka Skies Nobeoka Grass Igata Fields Nobeoka Some people in Nobeoka will stand on their head in order to get a chance to speak English A lot of kids learned to speak to a foreigner at Igata Cho Nobeoka kouminkan There a lot of people coming to the Ahner house in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka to learn to speak English Howard Ahner spoke to a few troubled people in English during the great typhoon of 2005 I spoke English in the Cocoretta Building in downtown Nobeoka while eating okonomiyaki Many of my students that live around Sazanpia Minami Nobeoka come to study English with me Yes the road to fluent English is a long and difficult one I agree But we here in Nobeoka try Some people that live towards the South of Nobeoka are beginning to study English with Howard Ahner He Often Shines in Nobeoka Yudai Yano Drew This Cool Picture of Howard Ahner Ayaka's Pose Here is Extra Ordinary Harris Kutsunai and Howard Ahner Go on Tozan in 1979 Keiko Yanagita Goes on First Date with Howard Ahner Howard Ahner Shows His Family From California Nobeoka Mimitsu Cherry Blossoms Heisei Drwings At Peare Hikari Jidou Club Kitaura Nobeoka Marches On Mimitsu Hanami Nobeoka Burning Nobeoka Shiohama Howard Ahner Arms and Shoulders Howard at the Temple Nichiren Shoshu See Actual Proof Kirin Asahi Blend in Nobeoka Kitaura Students English Koyou Club Kyushudenki Larry Grabowy was our class president la quinta Larry Upthegrove fellow drafting class member La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Leyda Lopez was in my spanish class with Miss Law La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Maury Plunkett was in my biology class with Mr Smith La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class I took some family members to the top of Atagoyama Nobeoka and we spoke a lot of English there I had an idea to teach English on this boat in Mimitsu Cho but my wife had other ideas We wanted to the use the upstairs room in this drug store in Nobeoka but they said No We were going to study English in the old Daiei Building in Nobeoka but it was bulldozed down We would like to design a treehouse and build it in the city of Nobeoka Japan We talked about a newspaper company in Nobeoka called The Yukan Daily We joked and conversed at a restaurant in Nobeoka called Torisen There are numerous gentlemen that work at Asahi Kasei Chemical and they speak English very well We spoke in the English language and enjoyed some Hyuganatsu a type of fruit grown in Hyuga City Many of the kids living in Kitaura speak to me in the English languge We asked the manager of A Price in Minami Nobeoka if we could use a spare room to teach English in This was the only free space we could find in Nobeoka to teach English in but it's too small We All Eventually Walk Into The Nobeoka Sunset Nobeoka Peare Nobeoka Teachers Nobeoka Nights Light Headed Fun Heisei Stilts Heisei Jungle Gym Heisei Rings Heisei Digging Howard Bows Nobeoka Ink Hososhima Anchor Hososhima Palms Takoyaki Truck They're Stacked Up Against Us Nobeoka Low Riders Bell Gardens Nobeoka Architecture They Kick in Kitaura El Condor No Passa Kawaminami Tennis Zaikouji and Youchien Our tennis game is getting a little rusty around these parts Nobeoka Did you say that today is trash day Oh No It must your turn to put out the trash It's hard to be humble in Nobeoka Japan In Nobeoka the sun shines hottest in August I am looking forward to it I carry T shirts The people of Miyazaki have taught me how to be humble and bow It still feels strange for me I met a homeless person living in that gazebo over there He was a likable fellow I have taught English at almost every Joyfull Restaurant in Nobeoka and Hyuga cities This is the sunset on our way to bed down in Taisekiji home of Nichiren Daishounin concerns We get the sunrise and the sunset This is the sunset in Nobeoka City Miyazaki Japan From certain angles Nobeoka looks like Waikiki in Oahu Hawaii Don't you think so I once hit a grand slam home run on the Giants for New Hope Little League Here's a depiction of Japanese from a long time ago Actually these people dwelt in Nobeoka Japan Naoko Stapchuk Howard Ahner and George Stapchuk Jr during the holidays in Yokohama Japan Keiko Ahner's Sign in Kami Igata Cho Nobeoka doesn't exist anymore George Stapchuk Jr is Seeing Me Off at the LA airport April 23 1989 Thanks George Here are the kids of Matsuyama Cho Nobeoka Japan His name is Yuudai He's a very good kid Howard Ahner's Most Viewed Videos Cradling Heisei Kids in Kawaminami The Wonders of Nobeoka I just can't hide it at Heisei Youchien We are willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause Lower it and jump start in Hososhima Miyazaki I'm crossing you in style Once Twice Three Times a Lady The Rising Tide of Discontent 1997 Drive Through California Nevada and Arizona with the Yanagita's Okubo's Tomoko and Kozue Animal Collection House Closed a Few Years Ago 2001 Keiko Ahner Hososhima Gate Einstein Ahner Passed in 2005 Keiko of Waiwai Drive into Nobeoka from the south The Miyazaki Bull Maybe it's a restaurant Nobeoka Rube Whitey Ahner Anything at A Price n Nobeoka Nobeokagakuen Nobeoka Gyoza Nobeoka Juku Nobeoka Manju Nobeoka Pan Nobeoka Piano Nobeoka Tower Nobeoka Yamaha Nobetakagakuen Papillion Nobeoka Paul Haines played guard on La Quinta 1970 basketball team Howard sat the bench Pete Oliver went to Russell Elementary with Fred Soria and Howard Ahner Rayon Nobeoka rEAdmE PREss Rick Sappington Freshman Baseball La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Robyn Hendy was in my typing class a La Quinta Westminster Roger Rummelfanger was in my chemistry class La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Russell McHale played third base on the championship freshman team of 1967 La Quinta High School Ruth Jaques La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class English Classes in Nobeoka and Hyuga English Classes NOBEOKA Scott Lund played guard on the basketball team La Quinta High School Westminster 1970 Class Stan Petty Steven Simmons SUNdAibUNko Sun Park Hyuga Loc Town Loctown Jusco English Teacher uSIo Yamashita Nobeoka La Quinta High Varsity Westminster California Tsurugaoka er Birth Certificate Accident Hososhima Nobeoka Gakuen Whitey Ahner Graying in Nobeoka 2 007 Stuff The Days of Wine and Roses Furosato The Best of Nobeoka History of Faces Heisei Youchien Kawaminami From 1990 Momotaro or Damian Freestone of Nobeoka Miyazaki Japan Letter to Ichinosawa Nyudo Letter to Jakunichi bo Letter to Konichi bo Letter to Ko no ama Gozen Hey Look They're speaking English on NHK And it's in Nobeoka Anne's House of Nobeoka Chalon became Kandagawa a Rotary Sushi Restaurant in Nobeoka Tiller man Shop Nobeoka Asahi Kan Cinema Nobeoka Tonkatsu Restaurant Before Okawa Kaguya Nobeoka Papillion Restaurant Nobeoka Puri Me Ro Pan Idekita Nobeoka Old Maruzen Bookstore Location Nobeoka Daiei Nobeoka Best Denki Nobeoka Old Roller Skating Rink in Nobeoka Bowling in Tohmi Nobeoka Once upon a time English Class Notes Nobeoka Japan Nobeoka History Ahner Eikaiwa Advertising in Nobeoka New English = New Nobeoka English Classes Here Keiko Ahner's Colors Kamiigata Dog Keiko Ahner's Art Just Whitey Ahner Inoshishi Whitey Ahner Nobeoka Construction Nobeoka Gakuen Happy Times Nobeoka Parking Nobeoka Colors Nobeoka Life This is an ariel view of my mother's house Nobeoka High School Baseball Champions Years Ago Audio Video by Howard Ahner New Road in Kami Igata Keiko Ahner wins again in Nobeoka July 2006 Nobeoka Marks in Time Link to Nobeoka English Hitotsugaoka Band On The Rocks in Miyazaki Prefecture Japan by Howard Ahner Maintain a Low Profile Nobeoka English Teacher Takanabe Art Museum Video Hospitals in Japan Kadogawa Park near Nobeoka Analyzing Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Californians in Nobeoka Pachinko Player's Cough in Nobeoka Japan Prevent Crime in Japan Study English in Nobeoka English Classes Nobeoka Often Thought About Proverbs Aspiration for the Buddha Land Banishment to Sado Beneficial Medicine for All Ills Bestowal of the Mandala of the Mystic Law Clear Sake Gosho Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child General Stone Tiger This is an ariel view of my mother's house This is Whitey on a January Afternoon in 2006 Good Fortune in This Life Great Evil and Great Good Happiness In This World Here's some more of my class notes Here are some Japanese and English sentences Jozo and Jogen Lessening the Karmic Retribution Letter from Echi Letter to Domyo Zemmon This is Sun Road Nobeoka in the early evening on a rainy night Letter to Endo Saemon no jo Letter to Gijo bo I like to eat at Koyou Restaurant Even Joyfull Restaurant looks good at night They get it all off at this cleaners They l me that this chimney is the same height as Atago Mountain Letter to Jakunichi bo Letter to Ko no ama Gozen They let me play on the Sumie tennis court on one humid evening Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison New Year's Gosho We were babies once No Safety in the Threefold World On Attaining Buddhahood Friends in Zaikouji Midorigaoka School Hagaki 2006 First Drawing Yuina Yurikago Party Okubo and Hikari Jidoukan Matsuyama NTT Midorigaoka Friends Even in Kadogawa UNESCO Speech Thelma Tsurue Kutsunai Takasago Kouminkan Shiori and Kunihiko 8th Grade Commencement Peare Friday at 10 00 AM Naoki Sasada Mirai Juku Military Tennis Unicycling Club Kami Igata Sho Nobeoka Igata Sho Nobeoka Graduation Ceremony California Memories Mubakai Nobeoka Standing Tall Keiko Ahner's Peanut Factory in Nobeoka These pictures were taken from the top of the Jusco Nobeoka building Typhoon Flooding in Nobeoka Mimitsu Cherry Blossoms The Good Life in Nobeoka My Brother What I Love About Nobeoka Totoro Bay Okita Dam Nobeoka Tankidai Nobeoka Sugarcane A&A Ho Nobeoka Bronze Cash Bar Nobeoka Hozai Park Nobeoka Houzai School Houzai Back Bay Keiko Ahner's Painting Keiko Ahner's Painting Keiko Ahner's Painting Class Notes Nobeoka Country Roads Suspension Bridge Gone Suspension Bridge Once Nobeoka Cherries Seiun Bridge Toneru No Eki Water Falls Keiko Ahner's Painting She's my number one fan My bike fits right in Don't you think so When was Mia's last taiko performance Who is going to take Mia's place How did your Honda 50 cc hold up on the way to Takachiho from Nobeoka Is there a train that goes to Toneru No Eki Which was more fun going to Takachiho on your motor scooter or going home on your motor scooter How are the old roads Can you read the signs Is it windy in Japan Where is the Unseen waterfall What were people like in this area Did you find any rest stops Where is Yatou Hinokage How far is this place from Nobeoka Is there a doctor around here Heisei Flips Where can I plant a garden for free Do you know what this means Did your wife paint your house What's the name of that famous pilot in Nobeoka What's his name Goto Yuukichi is known for what What does the Rotary club do in Nobeoka Is he your favorite poet Did you try Kyu Ichi Men ramen when it was in town Where did Keiko get Einstein her first pet dog What do you have to say about Nobeoka New English in Nobeoka New English in Nobeoka Best Videos of Mine Nobeoka Japan Hanashi Click on pictures to see videos of Japan Shakunage from Ougi Yama Shiiba Japan Dr Yarimizu Nobeoka High School Baseball Champions Years Ago Audio Video by Howard Ahner On Top Of The World Max Value Nobeoka Walk Over Bridge 2007 Audio Video Let Me Be Your Guide To America Audio Visual Three Dogs Tied Together For Their Afternoon Walk Lemonade Studio Taima Totoro Nobeoka May 4 2007 by Howard Ahner ie Hyuga Fishing Port ie Takachiho Train Benefit Hyuga Coffee Shop Closed May 4 2007 by Howard Ahner ie Californians in Nobeoka ie My Book on Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Page One ies My Book on Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Page Two ies My Book on Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Page Three ies My Book on Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Page Four ies My Book on Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Page Five ies My Book on Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Page Six ies Picturing Around May 2007 ie See the band again Sunrise in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka Filmed by Howard Ahner April 29 2007 ie Totoro Cho ie in Nobeoka The Outskirts of Kadogawa Cho Miyazaki Film Kadogawa Cho Miyazaki Japan Video On My Way to Hyuga Meru Sasaki Makes It In En Magazine Nobeoka The ie Nobeoka April 26 2007 See The ie Here Metal Detecting in Nobeoka V Watch The ie Here Only For Nobeoka Here Rummaged Ahner Here Oita Ni Ikitai Desu Kedo See The ie Here Free Good Nobeoka Band ie Clip Drinks After Twelve in the Taima Cho Hills Japanese Painters Japan Peanut Painting in Japan Panoramic Japan Japanese Metal Detectors The ie Japanese Sunrises Sunrise in Nobeoka Japan Nobeoka Baseball Baseball Nobeoka English Study Buddhism in Nobeoka New Road in Kami Igata Kami Igata Dog Ed Arial Was For Sale Nobeoka Professional Study Buddhism in Nobeoka FREE Tsurugaoka er Meisui Nobeoka This building used to house Asahi Kan Cinema Now it houses a clinic of some kind Friends of Nobeoka Keiko Ahner's Colors Ahner English Nobeoka Advertising Nobeoka Hit Nobeoka ICU Nobeoka Kasutera Nobeoka Mitsubishi Nobeoka Money Atarashii Nobeoka Eikaiwa English Teacher Wednesdays at 10 AM Nobeoka Divers Trees in Nobeoka Nobeoka Wireless Some Japanese Sentences A Father Takes Faith A Sage Perceives the Three Existences of Life A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering Ahner Keiko Draws Nobeoka Super Ursula Field Ebisu Festival Business Festival Keiko's Hiding Place Mt Kagamiyama Saigo's Clan Saigo's War Bronze Mirror More Pictures Atorie Nobeoka Peare The Wonders of Nobeoka Nobeoka Waves of English Study Brand New English Teacher in Nobeoka Harada Kusuri Nobeoka Guriya Facil Fashi ru Daiso Hyuga Chofu Takara Hypermall Merx How to go to Nobeoka Enthusiasm Makes The Difference They're Coming to Nobeoka They're coming to Nobeoka Howard's Art Fun With English Kayako Gokase Teibou Hospital Promotion Just Under The Wire Panoramic Nobeoka Rock Owls Nobeoka Ga Suki I am late for Peare Tens of Droppings Large Companies in Japan Are The Winners Bird Waterers Rikabucho Mr Yamashita Said Kuhi Area Fees College Talk Cliffs Kaigo Japanese English 3 1 2007 Japanese English 3 2 2007 Japanese English 3 3 2007 Japanese English Review 3 5 2007 1965 1966 2004 Links Here's some work that Keiko Ahner did in Wildomar California in March and April 2006 Granite City Illinois Born Howard Ahner is now in Nobeoka Japan Teaching English Nobeoka Link Curing Karmic Disease Letter to Misawa Letter to Konichi bo On Omens Thus I Heard The Votary of the Lotus Sutra Will Meet Persecution The Problem To Be Pondered Night and Day On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha The Royal Palace The Unmatched Fortune of the Law The Drum at the Gate of Thunder The Teaching for the Latter Day Consecrating an Image of Shakyamuni An Outline of the Zokurui and Other Chapters Admonitions Against Slander Bestowal of the Mandala of the Mystic Law The Receipt of New Fiefs The Unity of Husband and Wife Letter to Ko no ama Gozen Winter Always Turns to Spring On Filial and Unfilial Conduct A Father Takes Faith A Warning against Begrudging One's Fief The Mongol Envoys Reply to Tokimitsu Reply to Myoho Bikuni Gozen Beneficial Medicine for All Ills A Sage Perceives the Three Existences of Life The Proof of the Lotus Sutra Letter to Jakunichi bo Aspiration for the Buddha Land Reply to Lord Shijo Kingo The Universal Salty Taste Letter to Gijo bo New Year's Gosho Persecution at Tatsunokuchi Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child Reply to Lord Matsuno's Wife The Birth of Tsukimaro The Offering of a Summer Robe The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith Banishment to Sado Postscript to the Rissho Ankoku Ron Reply to a Believer On Flowers and Seeds Reply to Ko Nyudo Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward Reply to Lord Matsuno Letter from Echi Reply to Lady Onichi nyo Letter to Endo Saemon no jo Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison The Property of Rice Happiness In This World Great Evil and Great Good The Wonderful Means of Surmounting Obstacles Upholding Faith in the Gohonzon Roots of Good Fortune Reply to Jibu bo No Safety in the Threefold World Nichiren Daishoun Letter to Horen Nichiren Daishounin King Rinda Nichiren Daishounin Jozo and Jogen Nichiren Daishounin Bodhisattva Hachiman Nichiren Daishounin On Prayer Nichiren Daishounin The Opening of the Eyes Part I The Opening of the Eyes Part II Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man Part II Establishment of the Legitimate Teaching for the Protection of the Country How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood Through the Lotus Sutra The Learned Doctor Shan wu wei The Entity of the Mystic Law The Pure and Far reaching Voice Reply to Takahashi Nyudo The Teaching Capacity Time and Country The Doctrine of Attaining Buddhahood in One's Present Form Encouragement to a Sick Person The Essence of the Yakuo Chapter The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra The Supreme Leader of the World The Treasure of a Filial Child The Supremacy of the Law Reply to Nii ama The Workings of Bonten and Taishaku The Story of Ohashi no Taro The Teaching in Accordance with the Buddha's Own Mind The Treatment of Illness and the Points of Difference between Mahayana and Hinayana and Provisional Repaying Debts of Gratitude On Practicing the Buddha's Teachings On the Urabon Letter to the Priests of Seicho ji Letter to Nichimyo Shonin Letter to Shomitsu bo Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra Reply to Sairen bo Rationale for Submitting the Rissho Ankoku Ron Persecution by Sword and Staff Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins Recitation of the Hoben and Juryo Chapters Reply to Lord Hakiri Saburo Reply to Yasaburo Letter to Ichinosawa Nyudo Letter to Myomitsu Shonin Reply to Hoshina Goro Taro Wu lung and I lung White Horses and White Swans The Sutra of True Requital The Kalpa of Decrease The Farther the Source the Longer the Stream The Third Doctrine The One eyed Turtle and the Floating Sandalwood Log Letter to Nakaoki Nyudo General Stone Tiger The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life Lessening the Karmic Retribution Letter to the Brothers On Itai Doshin On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha Hell is the Land of Tranquil Delight On Prolonging Life On the Buddha's Beh or On the Buddha's Prophecy On the Treasure Tower Propagation by the Wise The Embankments of Faith The Dragon Gate Strategy of the Lotus Sutra Reply to Kyo o The Person and the Law The One Essential Phrase The Gift of Rice The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon Letter of Petition from Yorimoto Introduction and Preface to the Ongi Kuden Namu Myoho Renge Kyo Devotion to the Lotus Sutra Muryogi Sutra Sutra of Innumerable Meanings Chapter 3 Simile and Parable Hiyu Chapter 4 Faith and Understanding Shinge Chapter 6 Prediction Juki Chapter 7 Phantom City Kejoyu Chapter 8 Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples Gohyaku Deshi Juki Study English in Nobeoka Here Flexing my muscles in Nobeoka seems to be a waste of energy It's a 50 000 yen fine for riding double on a bicycle in Nobeoka It's a 50 000 Yen fine for riding your bicycle at night in Nobeoka without a headlamp It's a 50 000 Yen fine for talking on your cell phone while riding your bicycle in Nobeoka It's a 500 000 yen fine for riding your bicycle while slightly drunk in Nobeoka Japan It's fun just to sit near an entrance and watch the people of Nobeoka Change in Nobeoka will come AFTER words When a man has been under continual attacks it is criminal of you not teach him to defend himself What one man can do ANY man can do The Edge You can get a credit card with point card value at Yamada D in Hyuga and get 5 000 points Fire can be made from ice Mold a prism in your hands and make fire The Edge The first infant to be found in the baby hatch in Japan was 3 or 4 years old A tough guy was arrested for not turning off his five cell phones on an airline in Japan Do you speak Bogo Bokokugo Kokugo or Nihongo It's never too late to offer a friendly gesture in Nobeoka to Japanese people Stay Out of the Mainstay in Kadogawa Gaikokujins Don't Ever Make Waves Alligator Gaikokujins Bide Your Time which end in Japan bearded men Don't Wear Loud Colors in Nobeoka Howard Ahner Try to Blend In The Clouds Gaikokujin of Japan Try To Be Stylish in the Inaka of Nobeoka Anyway Gaikokujintachi How do you wake someone up in Nobeoka Slap a newspaper on their head or wet towel It always seems that good ideas surface when I DON'T have my pen and paper I think if I were to leave Nobeoka tomorrow no one would remember me after five years I am relatively in the groove I think At least everyone is satisfied in Nobeoka well it seems so Some of us feel cornered in Nobeoka You don't want to get caught in a lightening storm in Midorigaoka Nobeoka They said they couldn't see his ears from certain angles But he lived in Nobeoka Someone said he could light up the room with his head He lived in Nobeoka for a while Nobeoka Racket Man Mushi No Koe Donguri Koro Runoff Blue Dancer by Keiko Ahner Take me to your leader New Public Speakers of Japan Alumni Links Harbor Drive In Theatre La Quinta High Varsity Sakura Flowers Japan Japanican Freepatentsonline Sea Turtles Japan Japanese Gardens Nobeoka Basketball Japan Segway Japan Japanese Jewelry Ancient Shiba Dog Whitey and Midorigaoka Friend Southern Press Sazanpia Nobeoka en Magazine Cherry Blossoms Marushe Megane No Miki Miyabi Mizokuchi Moisteane Nissay Nobeoka Train Overturned OA Nakahara Old Building Hyuga Pan De Mie Pizza La Hyuga Ralli Art Mitsubishi Suzuhana Takayama Fashion Uehara Boxing Unama Uno Club Ai Wan Kara Shi to Harada Kusuri Hypermall Merx Ichigoya Ittoko Jusco Joyfull Joyfull Hyuga Miyazaki Joyfull South Side Hyuga Kadogawa Fence Kadogawa Library Kaifuku Kanebo Keirin Kitakata Flood Kitakata Nobeoka Lotto Numbers Makino GumiLTD Nobeoka Bamba Odori July 28 2007 Long Coat Nagahama Wooden Gatherings by Howard Ahner in Nobeoka Mannequins in Nobeoka There was a Sergeant I had Sgt Beavers who always said Get your shit together Only you can Nobeoka Sunset June 26 2006 With Howard and Whitey Ahner Midorigaoka Stomping Grounds Nobeoka with Howard Ahner From 1989 It's a little confusing Postmen are allowed to ride on the sidewalks but not citizens Welcome to the all new modern looking Nobeoka City Rear View Mirror Young American Tsurugaoka Drive Around by Howard Ahner Howard Ahner's Videos in Nobeoka Japan New English Man in Nobeoka Takoyaki Stand in Kadogawa Town has been closed down Double Decker Gasoline Stand in Japan Still Exist in Nobeoka You can gamble on the horses in Kadogawa at a Keirin place Nobeoka Salmon is Delicious How does one process one's rice in Japan A Typical Bus Stop in Totoro Town Nobeoka Japan Nobeoka Strawberries The Kadogawa Home wide used to be on this location Now there is a Lawson Convenience Store A Good Friend Kobato in February 2008 We went shopping at Point Peg in Nobeoka City Miyazaki We seldom go to this Joyfull Restaurant in Idekita Nobeoka City Miyazaki Ken Here's a walk over bridge in Nobeoka City Japan Here's the Joyfull Restaurant near the road to Takachiho in Nobeoka Let's study at Sazanpia Nobeoka There's an Okonomiyaki restaurant over there that I like very much It's in Nobeoka This used to be the Anne's House of Nobeoka Do you know the one on Beach Blvd in Buena Park CA Here's the only Surfer's Shop in Nobeoka This Nishi No Maru Pachinko Parlor in Nobeoka is still closed And yes they even have a Colonel Sander's in Nobeoka This is perhaps the busiest Pachinko Parlor in Nobeoka City Gasoline is going down in price It's now 93 yen a liter A liter is about a quart I believe Some of you old timers may remember the motorcycle hanging from that yard arm over there I am still living easy in the city of Nobeoka Japan The old Chalon Restaurant has been turned into a rotary sushi bar At this Pachinko Parlor the steel balls now cost 1 yen each They used to cost 3 yen each And we do have a Mr Donut here in Nobeoka We are not barbarians you know In Nobeoka we even have a Baskin Robin's 31 Flavors ice cream parlor Moss Burger is the closest thing to a good hamburger joint one can find in Nobeoka City Miyazaki Old Ahner Family Pictures Mondays at the Ahner House in Tsurugaoka Nobeoka for English Classes Urashiro Excursion on February 20 2008 My Birthday Old Nobeoka Granite City Illinois Hitting Home Runs The Embankments of Faith A Father Takes Faith A Sage Perceives the Three Existences of Life A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering A Warning against Begrudging One's Fief An Outline of the Zokurui and Other Chapters Aspiration for the Buddha Land Banishment to Sado Beneficial Medicine for All Ills Bestowal of the Mandala of the Mystic Law Bodhisattva Hachiman Clear Sake Gosho Urashiro Link Kami Igata Location Smoking Zaikouji Akemashite Nobeoka Nobeoka Climber Nobeoka Plato Matsuyama House Puri Me Ro Pan Nobeoka Einstein Ahner Nobeoka Exercise Nobeoka Praying From Nobeoka Houkenshou Gokase Sunset Whitey Ahner Kami Igata Cho Entrance Nobeoka Smokers Nobeoka Air Act Nobeoka Bronze Smokey Hills of Nobeoka What did the fish say when he hit the Kawashima wall Damn How do you spell joyful Nobeoka Sone Cho Key master's House Tables and Chairs Nobeoka All Will Be Quiet on Sun Road Nobeoka Sicily in Nobeoka The Smoking Guns of Nobeoka Igata Smoke Masters Going Away From Mt Okue Nobeoka Re Building Nobeoka Before Building Yamashita Street Nobeoka Minami Nobeoka Honda Shop Gion Machi Nobeoka Eve Saloon Nobeoka Bronze not Blondes Nobeoka Taku Taku Ramen Nobeoka Roofs in Nobeoka Nobeoka Fog Keiko Ahner's Background Wash Howard Ahner US ARMY Takanabe Bridge They Call It Mellow Narrow Quit Rightly Gokase Ho Nobeoka Hi No Maru Howard Ahner's Doodling Nobeoka Dunkin' Animal Collection House Keiko Ahner Mitate Valley Miyazaki Kitagawa English Station Miyazaki Nobeoka Promise Nobeoka PTA Nobeoka Ramen Nobeoka Rice Nobeoka Rotary Nobeoka Shopper Nobeoka Soccer English for Soccers Hiroko and Narumi Hikari Jidoukan Zaikouji Champions A Simple Thank You Keiko Ahner's Friends Future Teachers Band Leader Keiko Ahner Koten Miyazaki Yamasaki Building November 2006 Keiko Ahner Koten Miyazaki Yamasaki Building November 2006 #2 Keiko Ahner Koten Peare Film He Sings Sasaki es Kitaura Lives Growth Rings Kami Igata Red means Go and White means Stop in Japan Keiko Ahner's Videos of Her Paintings Whitey Ahner Our Chibi Kami Igata Matchi Nobeoka Totoro Graduation 2007 Nobeoka Suzuki Nobeoka Team Nobeoka Temple Nobeoka Ticket Nobeoka Train Wreck Nobeoka Typhoon Nobeoka Water Nobeoka Wonder Nobeoka Light Blue Curing Karmic Disease The Opening of the Eyes Part I The Past Fortunate Man Zaikouji Summer Hitotsugaoka Fireworks Onsen Together We Are Chibi My Favorite Meal Pick Up Bottles Bottle Gathering Cracked Bottles Whizzing Nobeoka They're Coming to Nobeoka They're coming to Nobeoka Nichiren Daishounin's Writings Ahner Eikaiwa Ad Missed English Nobeoka Mt Enotake Hohri River Hot Springs Event in Nobeoka Decayed Nobeoka Daddy Long Legs Nobeoka Country Road Nobeoka Take Me Home Contented Whitey Ahner in Nobeoka Cast Nobeoka Bus Stop Pool Nobeoka Bald Mountain Nobeoka Ahner Eikaiwa Howard Ahner Nobeoka Typhoon Go Go August 2 2007 by Howard Ahner Street Drumming Nobeoka 2007 by Howard Ahner Study English On Top of Atago Yama Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Eleanor Ahner is In Stride by Howard Ahner Aron Hits it Big in Nobeoka by Howard Ahner Zaikouji Lined by Howard Ahner She Leads by Howard Ahner Happyoukai in Zaikouji by Howard Ahner Fun in Zaikouji by Howard Ahner Begging in Zaikouji by Howard Ahner Study English in Zaikouji Japan by Howard Ahner Being Useful in Japan by Howard Ahner English Memories by Howard Ahner Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Ahner's and Yanagita's The Kutsunai's Atago Yama in Nobeoka City Japan by Howard Ahner How to learn to speak Japanese and English at the same time by Howard Ahner Letter to Akimoto Letter to Domyo Zemmon Letter to Endo Saemon no jo Letter to Gijo bo Letter to Horen Play Nice in Nobeoka Takoyaki Nobeoker The Craft of English Nobeoka Touched in Nobeoka Typhoon Ginza Howard Ahner's Crayon Art Failed Electronic Nobeoka Failed Gasoline Stand Nobeoka Fresh Nobeoka Nobeoka needs some fresh eyes Hikari April Kagamiyama Stock Farm Park Kitaura Drifts Marine Diving Nobeoka New Kindergarten Nobeoka Railroad Crossing Nobeoka Ryota Kawaminami Sumie Nobeoka Tabacco Nobeoka NT Tunnels to Kitaura From Nobeoka Whitey Hiding Eiko Yanagita Emi Kodama Emily Kono Eri Kai Naoki Sasada Shuuhei Kodama Takashi Inui Eriko Fukumitsu Yuriya Kusano Fumigo Goto Jun Sudou Masashi Kagawa Goro Furumoto Takashi Yamada Hideki Amakawa Nobuo Nakashima Tsuyoko Mizuta Chieko Yoshioka Yumi Yokoyama Mika Ooyama Fuki Sakaguchi Nobuaki Iwai Itsuka Watanabe Sayoko Yoshimura Fumiko Ogawa Fumiko Tagawa Fumiyo Matsumura Gary Leyton Saki Okada Hitomi Ayaka Glen Ahner Haruka Hidaka Yuuki Hidaka Ise Hidaka Haruna Kitayama Chikashi Nagano Shouko Kurogi Megumi Kawano Yuki Sawada Hiroaki Honda Masahide Murata Yachiyo Takahashi Yuka Tanaka Tatsumi Murata Hideki Matsuoka Akiko Honda Ryou Ueno Tonami Kubota Tatsuki Kodama Shuu Awano Kouhei Tanaka Miharu Komatsu Shougou Tawara Minami Akari Ayari Okufuji Atsuko Hirano Nao Minami Shiori Tougo Nagisa Morita Manami Furukawa Rina Kawano Yuuki Kawano Riku Ishida Toyota Yuuta Kimura Satsuki Kodama Kaito Kodama Hiroya Unehara Yoshihiro Takahashi Keita Kouzuma Naohiro Minami Henry B lla Hidemi Kurogi Hidemi Matsumoto Hideyo Yoshida Hideyuki Kai Hiroaki Aishima Hiro Maeda Hiroki Sasada Hiroko Niiro Hiromichi Arase Hiromu Imakiire Takao Tanaka Hiroshi Kawano Naomi Yanagi Hiroshi Doi Hiroshi Kai Hiroshi Saito Hiroto Aoyama Hiroto Kazumata Hisako Hidada Hisako Okura Ikuko Fujimoto Ikuku Baba Isao Shiihara Itsuko Nonoue Izumi Kai Jeff Romonko Sayuri Masuda Junichi Hirose Junko Mizumoto Kaharu Umon Kanako Kodama Kaori Ito Kaori Kawashima Kaori Ono Akane Miura Kawagoe Ryouko Kayo Kotake Kayo Nakano Kayoko Hirota Kayoko Kurimoto Kayoko Tachibana Kazuhiko Someya Kazuko Kohdatsu Kazuyo Nakao Soda Byouin Kazuyuki Matsuda Keiko Hino Keiko Kawano Keiko Ogawa Keiko Sasaki Keiko Taguchi Keiko Yakizaki Kenichi Shimoda Kenichiro Kitabayashi Kentarou Kadomura Kentarou Kaneko Kenzo Wada Kerry Dunne Koji Kai Kosei Taniwaki Kotani Kai Kou Osaki Kouhei Kai Kouhei Miyaki Kouhei Oomura Kousuke Iwakiri Kozue Omichi Kumiko Morishita Kyoko Asada Kyoko Furuta Kyoko Kashiwado Nobuko Minato Toshimi Takahashi Yoko Jukurogi Rumiko Yanagita Tomoe Yoshida Yumiko Nakagawa Rena Anegawa Seiko Shiba Tezuka Osamu Mari Sasaki Naoki Murakami Mariko Kai Mariko Mii Mariko Sanada Marilyn Paul Masahiko Matsubayashi Masahiro Sato Masako Horiuchi Masami Miyagoe Masano Harada Masao Katsura Masaru Ito Masato Setoguchi Masato Tsuyoshi Masatoshi Kai Masayo Kudou Mika Ueno Mayu Inayoshi Mayuka Miura Mayumi Hayashi Mayumi Kaikake Mayumi Nakamura Megumi Fujitaka Megumi Iwasaki Megumi Nagano Mei Nagahama Michael Cooper Michiko Ando Michiko Suzuki Michiyo Kobayashi Midori Nakanishi Mieko Matsuno Mieko Naono Miho Kurogi Mihoko Hirasawa Mika Katou Mika Michimae Mika Mikako Katsusuko Mikasa 0982 34 9587 me at Bronze was APEX Co father Urusula owner Mika Ueno Mike Naron and Miyuki Naron Miki Himeno Mikiko Katsuki Mikiko Hiroto Kayako Aoyama Miki Satou Minako Ono Minami Hazeyama Minami Mizunaga Mitsugu Takada Mitsuo Arimura Miwa Kumagoe Mizuna Onizuka Fumino Kawahara Tomofumi Kawakami Modoka Nasu Monique Algie Blais Motoko Takagi Motomi Matsuda Munehisa Kodama Munenori Aman Murakami Mutsuko Kai Mutsumi Suda Nao Sumioka Naoki Maeda Naoko Matsuda Naomi Natsuda Naomi Natsuki Yagita Natsuko Hirano Natsuko Mimata Neal Leiman Noriko Higashi Noriko Kodama Noriko Nakanishi Noriko Satou Kyuushuu Denryoku Noriko Todaka Nozomi NaganoO A Peters 13162 Newhop St GG 92843 Osamu Hoshino Osamu Yasunaga Pam Kutsunai Yoshiko Oka Kayoko Kurimoto Shouko Suzuki Kahoru Mori Hiromichi Tanaka Satomi Someya Miyoko Yano Sumiko Kai Yoshiko Oka Mitsugu Takado Noriko Kishimori Chisato Kadogawa Naomi Matsuda Takeko Mizuta Yashisusha Shimada Masayo Takato Ikumi Suenaga Yoshitaka Yamashita Hiroko Kawano Naoko Kawamata Yoriko Taguchi Keiko Kitayama Kaname Kawano Naomi Matsuda Rumiko Yanagita Toru Ide Takami Yamashita Shigetoshi Fumiklo Tagawa Tsunako Izumi Toshiko Tajima Reiko Noza Noboru Takashima Yoshiki Nomura Shinobu Ogata Peter Ishii Ran Kai Reiko Hanaoka Rhondi Shigemura Richard Delrio Rie Ishigawa Rie Watanabe Rika Ikeda Rika Kurogi Rika Tokumaru RINA AND MIKA UENO Rina Asami Saki Natsumi Risa Kai Eri Kai Takumi Kai Ritsuko Hashimoto Roger Onuma Royal Tennis Club Rumi Kawano Home Rumiko Kitagawa Ryoko Hosokawa Ryou Ogata Ryouta Kawaminami Ryuna Katou Ryusei Ishihara Sachiko Kubozaki Sachiko Oga Saho Hamamatsu Saki Nakata Genta Okada Satoko Kosaka Satoko Yamamoto Satomi Taniwaki Satoru JAZZ FANTASY Satou Michiko Sayaka Suda Sayaka Nasu Seiko Matsushita Setsuyo Kojima Shigeyuki Mohara Shigemitsu Nagata Shiho Kodama Shiho Tajima Shin Masuda Shinji Keneko Shinka Sakaguchi Shinya Agagi Kunihiko Sogabe Shiori Ichimasa Shiori Kai Shiori Maeda Shizoku Akasu Shizuka Soga Shoichirou Ono Shoji Hisatomi Shosaku Aramaki Shouhei Kai Shouta Nakano Shoya Kodama Shunsuke MatsumotoShunsuke Nakashima Miruku Shuuhei Kodama Soda Byouin Souhei Akuta Steven Snyder Sue Oser Suzuko Kurogi Akira Matsumoto Toshinobu Morikawa Katsuhiko Nakai Kazuhiro Shiiba Shuichi Sudo Toshirou Taniguchi Kazuki Tateo Ajisaka Shintarou Baba Toshihiko Honda Taeko Yamamoto Eiji Kamitani Akemi Kimura Kayo Takahiro Goto Taigaa Jyukurogi Takahiro Kurogi Takahiro Matsubayashi Takako Jennings Takako Yoshida Takanobu Nagatomo Takashi Goto Takashi Inui Yuu Hirose Satomi Imakiire Yuri Umino Yuuko Umino Takeshi Fukagawa Ogaji Cho Nobeoka Takeshi Kai Satomi Imakiire Taketoshi Nomoto Takeyuki Yamamoto Takiko Hirasaki Tomitaka Hyuga Takumi Kai Matsuyama Cho Takumi Takuya Kuroki Tateo Ajisaka Tatsuko Akiki Tatsunori Ogawa Tatsuya Hisanaga Takayoshi Nanba Shuji Oonishi Jyunya Tokita Tomiko Nakashikma Tomoko Kitano Tomoko Ooshima Tomoko Uesugi Tomomi Kodama Tomomi Kuroda Tony Randles Toshie Mizuide Toshifumi Goto Toshiharu Sakamoto Toshihide Kai Toshiko Fukunaga Toshiko Kutsunai Arboles Avenue Orange Toshiharu Sakamoto Toshio Ishii Tsubasa Yamada Tsunako Izumi Usui Toshiko Fumio Tanabe Toshiko Tajima Shinichi Kouzu Toshirou Nagaoka Wakako Kawagoe Takasago Kominkan Wakako Yamashita Wakana Hagihara Yaeko Hotta Yaeko Yano Yamashita Masashi Kruogi Yasuhiro Sawa Yusuke Kido Futami Tamiko Shouko Izuno Setuko Shiiba Kasumi Furukawa Yasuko Shiga Yoko Shiga Yasunori Okada Yayoi or Suu Chan Yoko Nomura Yoshiaki Soda Dr Soda Yoshie Ishii Yoshiki Nomura Yoshiko Kikuchi Yoshiko Oka Yoshiro Niita Yousuke Sasaki Yui Nagata Yuji Goto Yuka Goto Yukari Satou Yukari Kai Yukari Oshiga Yuki Hidaka Yuki Kawano Yuki Kitabayashi Yuki Ono Yuki Kentaro and Motoomi Kaneko Yukie Ishizaka Yukiko Suzuki Yuki Sasaki Yuko Motomura Yumi Hamada Yumi Yanagita Yumiko Ono Yuna Yamamoto Yuri Umino Yuriko Inoue Yurina Nakano Yusuke Toda Yuta Fukunaga Yutaro Suda Yutaro Yoshioka Tsunetomi Nobeoka Yuto Inada Yuuko Umino Yuuko Shimoda Yuusuke Kuroki Yuusuke Nasu Yuutaro Yoshioka Yuuto Inada Yuuto Suguro Akane Kuga Shun Inouchi Koudai Makihira Yuusei Makihira Miyuu Tanaka Maimi Tanaka Mamika Yanagita Arisa Iwakiri Hiroyuki Matsumoto Yukako Kuroki Rina Inouchi Yoshitaka Yamashita Akiko Tanaka Hiroko Kawano Yasuhisa Shimoda Masayo Takata Eriko Matsuda Sachiko Kijima Nobeoka Tennessee Waltz Kahoru Mori Yoshiko Oka Tomoyuki Takahashi tennis Yoshiko Takahashi Miki Takahashi volleyball Harry Potter Ayaka Matsumoto dance Hauru Ugokushiro Mami Mitarai dance Harry Potter Shiori Taguchi piano Tonari No Totoro Yukina Taguchi piano Riko Takamori badminton Tonari No Totoro Yukiko Koyano basketball Harry Potter Mao Ogawa karaoke One Piece Haura Wada dokusho ryouri Harry Potter Nana Tokudome badminton Harry Potter Rina Tokudome badminton Tonari No Totoro Mizuki Gotou swing Kurenai no buta Mayoushi Yagino Maya Nishimura basketball Mask Ima Ai ni Yukimasu Rina Toitaka softball Harry Potter Kotomi Sayuri Takamura badminton Hauru no Ugokushiro Sayaka Tatsuta apples kingyousou Harry Potter Yuto Kanemaru Miyuu Kanemaru Yukina Satou Daichi Tanaka Yuta Higashi Takao nakashima Takanori Inoue Nakagawa Masakazu Kawano Terumi, Risa Kazumi Nene Tanoue Seina Nakamura Seiya Morita Shougo Ogi Shouta Shibasaki Natsuno Furusho Yuudai Yano Touma Suzuki Nanami Hidaka Shougo Nishikawa Tsubasa Okufuji Sasa Yamaguchi Suzu Hagiwara Kouhei Iwazune Kawanabe Shachi Hagiwara Sakura Morita Meika Mishima Ryouna Tanoue Souta Ryota Eura Ryukei Kawamura Itona Mochihara Ibuki Mochihara Marika Saifu Yui Miyaki Momoka Sakai Kyoko Okada Kazuko Tomiyama Kayo Tsuchida Mitsuho Yoshida Yui Umeda Ayaka Matsumoto Arisa Iwakiri Maria Iwakiri Maho Atsugatsuka Rio Atsugatsuka Miku Inada Mana Kurogi Moeka Yugawa Mai Watanabe Kodai Masuda Tomoyuki Takahashi Kazukhiro Shiiba Nanaka Eura Kazuki Uchida Riko Miyashita Nanami Matsuki Tsubasa Kimura Kouki Kobayashi Katsuhiro Masuda Yuki Takada Honoka Ukezeki Takehiro Hasuna Shinse Egawa Ryusei Egawa Junki Ogato Yuka Sueyasu Ena Sueyasu Mayuko Miyahara Misaki Miyahara Seitaro Oda Seitaro Mori Shugo Fukada Kouki Yuki Yamana Riko Katakabe Miwa Iwamoto Koudai Asahi Shiiba Mieko Naono Tomiko Futami Setsuko Shiiba Yasuko Iwakiri Asahikasei is a great company to work for Kawashima Youchien is a great kindergarten Tsuno concrete walk in Miyazaki Internet Cafe